What do you think?
Rate this book
Bellevue Bullies #1
Boarded by Love
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Toni Aleo, comes a spin off series from the Assassins: the Bellevue Bullies!
Jude Sinclair here, hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and lover of all ladies. Hockey’s in my blood, and not to sound full of myself, but I’m good at it… really good. The draft is within my reach — it’s mine to take — but that’s not the only reason people know my name. They know me because of my way with women. They know the score, and I aim to please. I just tend to stay away from repeat performances. In other words, I don’t do relationships beyond my family and friends. I’m happy with life. However, I should warn you that my story and how I see it playing out is about to change due to a certain redhead on campus.
She’s beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking.
She’s my game changer.
***
He’s trouble from the moment I see him. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but from the moment I meet his gaze, I’m his. It’s a scary feeling.
I’ve never trusted anyone outside my aunt and uncle — and even that took months. I didn’t have it easy growing up. My mom was usually strung out, and she didn’t give me a second thought. Drugs and the men who paid her were more important to her. It was horrible, but I’m stronger today. Because of my past, security is what I need most. Money assures me that I can take care of myself today, tomorrow, and next month. I don’t want to ever be hungry or go without again, so I work hard for every penny.
Oh, by the way, I’m Claire Anderson. I’m a hard-studying sophomore at the University of Bellevue, dancer for the school dance team, and a burlesque dancer at a club, but that’s my secret.
You may think you know how our story ends, but you have no clue. It’s not easy falling in love… or living happily ever after. At first it may seem so, but when is anything worth having ever won without a fight?
Especially when you’re boarded by love.
Jude Sinclair here, hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and lover of all ladies. Hockey’s in my blood, and not to sound full of myself, but I’m good at it… really good. The draft is within my reach — it’s mine to take — but that’s not the only reason people know my name. They know me because of my way with women. They know the score, and I aim to please. I just tend to stay away from repeat performances. In other words, I don’t do relationships beyond my family and friends. I’m happy with life. However, I should warn you that my story and how I see it playing out is about to change due to a certain redhead on campus.
She’s beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking.
She’s my game changer.
***
He’s trouble from the moment I see him. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but from the moment I meet his gaze, I’m his. It’s a scary feeling.
I’ve never trusted anyone outside my aunt and uncle — and even that took months. I didn’t have it easy growing up. My mom was usually strung out, and she didn’t give me a second thought. Drugs and the men who paid her were more important to her. It was horrible, but I’m stronger today. Because of my past, security is what I need most. Money assures me that I can take care of myself today, tomorrow, and next month. I don’t want to ever be hungry or go without again, so I work hard for every penny.
Oh, by the way, I’m Claire Anderson. I’m a hard-studying sophomore at the University of Bellevue, dancer for the school dance team, and a burlesque dancer at a club, but that’s my secret.
You may think you know how our story ends, but you have no clue. It’s not easy falling in love… or living happily ever after. At first it may seem so, but when is anything worth having ever won without a fight?
Especially when you’re boarded by love.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2014
1765 people are currently reading
8806 people want to read
About the author
Toni Aleo
101 books6,718 followersWALL STREET JOURNAL, NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BEST SELLING AUTHOR TONI ALEO IS AN AUTHOR YOU CAN'T MISS!
make sure to Join my Mailing List: https://www.subscribepage.com/toniale...
My name is Toni aleo and I'm a #PredHead, #sherrio, #potterhead, and part of the #familybusiness!
I am also a wife to my amazing husband, mother of a wrestler and a gymnast, and also a fur momma to Phoebe, Gaston el Papillon & Winston.
You can usually find me hollering for the whole Nashville Predators since I'll never give my heart to one player again. When I'm not in the gym getting swole, I'm usually writing, trying to make my dreams a reality or being a taxi for my kids. I'm obsessed with Harry Potter, Supernatural, Disney and anything that sparkles! I'm pretty sure I was Belle in a past life and if I could be on any show it would be supernatural so I can hunt with Sam and Dean.
Also, could I LOVE hockey anymore?
make sure to Join my Mailing List: https://www.subscribepage.com/toniale...
My name is Toni aleo and I'm a #PredHead, #sherrio, #potterhead, and part of the #familybusiness!
I am also a wife to my amazing husband, mother of a wrestler and a gymnast, and also a fur momma to Phoebe, Gaston el Papillon & Winston.
You can usually find me hollering for the whole Nashville Predators since I'll never give my heart to one player again. When I'm not in the gym getting swole, I'm usually writing, trying to make my dreams a reality or being a taxi for my kids. I'm obsessed with Harry Potter, Supernatural, Disney and anything that sparkles! I'm pretty sure I was Belle in a past life and if I could be on any show it would be supernatural so I can hunt with Sam and Dean.
Also, could I LOVE hockey anymore?
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 706 reviews
September 5, 2024
5 ‘Hey Jude’ stars
Claire Anderson. Ever since I read Phillip’s book, I was hoping there would be a book about Claire. I loved that spunky girl. I was so excited when I saw she was getting her own story. I wondered what kind of man she would be paired with. Claire has a past that has been difficult for her to deal with. She would need someone strong, someone kind and someone that could give her the love she deserves and the stability she craves. HEY JUDE. Jude Sinclair may be the man for the job. He also may be my new favorite book boyfriend from Toni Aleo. But then there is Tate… and Phillip. I guess it will have to be a three-way tie.
Claire is going to college, teaching for Reese’s studio, and doing a gig on the side. Burlesque dancing and choreography. She’s amazing at it. It keeps her secure and puts money in the bank- but no one knows except Reese and the girls she works with. Because of Claire’s past, she doesn’t date much and hasn’t been with a guy in a long time. Jude is much the opposite. He’s the best hockey player Bellevue has and is going straight into the NFL draft. He doesn’t date. It’s well-known on campus he is a one-and-done sort of guy. That is until he meets Claire. I loved their first meeting…
And their first kiss was pretty memorable...
Yes, it was a little bit of love at first sight for these two, but when you know, sometimes you just know. I wish I could say their relationship was rainbows and sunshine, but there were obstacles. Jude has an amazing relationship with all of his family- except his dad. And Claire has a nasty past, and isn’t forthcoming about her job. Jude knows all about Claire’s past and he doesn’t care. He loves everything about her. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
This is a story that proves sometimes love really can change a person. It’s not just a love story though. It’s a story about trust, family, friendship and forgiveness. It’s a story about learning to let people love you fully and trusting they won’t hurt you. A story about growth. About acceptance. And yes- about unconditional love.
Claire is by far my favorite heroine of Toni’s. I had a feeling she would be ever since I read Phillip’s book. She is strong, beautiful and spunky. Claire might be hesitant to trust, but she has good reasons. I loved that Jude was able to show her what she was truly worth. She has her uncle and Reese, but to have someone like Jude love her and give her what he gives is a game changer for her as well.
Jude is full of personality. He’s a hard worker, a little cocky, sweet, and all kinds of sexy. I not only loved the way he was with Claire, but the way he was with his mom and the rest of his family. I love a good manwhore who can find just the right woman to change his ways and that is exactly what happened with Jude. I loved watching them just be together. Jude and Claire had fantastic chemistry. Even though it was fast (their feelings) it was believable.
I find it so funny that someone like me- who doesn’t play, watch or particularly like any sport- loves a book about hockey. I think it’s because Toni has a way of writing the best and most swoony heroes, kick ass heroines and stories full of romance, steam and there is always the family theme. Family- friends who become your family. I love it. I know this isn’t an Assassin’s book perse, but it was wonderful to catch up with the Assassin’s crew.
A beautiful story of first loves, growing up and learning to trust. Boarded by Love was the perfect combination of sexy, sweet and emotional. I cried more than once, but it was a beautiful journey. This is one I would highly recommend to fans of romance/new adult!!
Claire Anderson. Ever since I read Phillip’s book, I was hoping there would be a book about Claire. I loved that spunky girl. I was so excited when I saw she was getting her own story. I wondered what kind of man she would be paired with. Claire has a past that has been difficult for her to deal with. She would need someone strong, someone kind and someone that could give her the love she deserves and the stability she craves. HEY JUDE. Jude Sinclair may be the man for the job. He also may be my new favorite book boyfriend from Toni Aleo. But then there is Tate… and Phillip. I guess it will have to be a three-way tie.
Claire is going to college, teaching for Reese’s studio, and doing a gig on the side. Burlesque dancing and choreography. She’s amazing at it. It keeps her secure and puts money in the bank- but no one knows except Reese and the girls she works with. Because of Claire’s past, she doesn’t date much and hasn’t been with a guy in a long time. Jude is much the opposite. He’s the best hockey player Bellevue has and is going straight into the NFL draft. He doesn’t date. It’s well-known on campus he is a one-and-done sort of guy. That is until he meets Claire. I loved their first meeting…
“Wow, you are full of yourself.” I shrug.
“Well, when you’re this sexy, and and have an amazing knack for pleasing woman, you become very confident.”
Her eyes darken as she holds my gaze. “I’m speechless.”
“Don’t worry, that happens a lot to girls. It’s my sexiness.”
And their first kiss was pretty memorable...
You know, everyone always talks about sparks and fireworks when they kiss a guy- I hadn’t ever felt that before, but I do now. But sparks and fireworks don’t really do the way he kisses justice. It’s more like a bomb, a nuclear one, because when I pull back, I’m dizzy.
Yes, it was a little bit of love at first sight for these two, but when you know, sometimes you just know. I wish I could say their relationship was rainbows and sunshine, but there were obstacles. Jude has an amazing relationship with all of his family- except his dad. And Claire has a nasty past, and isn’t forthcoming about her job. Jude knows all about Claire’s past and he doesn’t care. He loves everything about her. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
“I know you’ve been hurt, and I know that people have not been the greatest to you, but I want to change that. I want to be good for you. Worthy of you. I want to make you proud.”
This is a story that proves sometimes love really can change a person. It’s not just a love story though. It’s a story about trust, family, friendship and forgiveness. It’s a story about learning to let people love you fully and trusting they won’t hurt you. A story about growth. About acceptance. And yes- about unconditional love.
Claire is by far my favorite heroine of Toni’s. I had a feeling she would be ever since I read Phillip’s book. She is strong, beautiful and spunky. Claire might be hesitant to trust, but she has good reasons. I loved that Jude was able to show her what she was truly worth. She has her uncle and Reese, but to have someone like Jude love her and give her what he gives is a game changer for her as well.
Jude is full of personality. He’s a hard worker, a little cocky, sweet, and all kinds of sexy. I not only loved the way he was with Claire, but the way he was with his mom and the rest of his family. I love a good manwhore who can find just the right woman to change his ways and that is exactly what happened with Jude. I loved watching them just be together. Jude and Claire had fantastic chemistry. Even though it was fast (their feelings) it was believable.
I find it so funny that someone like me- who doesn’t play, watch or particularly like any sport- loves a book about hockey. I think it’s because Toni has a way of writing the best and most swoony heroes, kick ass heroines and stories full of romance, steam and there is always the family theme. Family- friends who become your family. I love it. I know this isn’t an Assassin’s book perse, but it was wonderful to catch up with the Assassin’s crew.
A beautiful story of first loves, growing up and learning to trust. Boarded by Love was the perfect combination of sexy, sweet and emotional. I cried more than once, but it was a beautiful journey. This is one I would highly recommend to fans of romance/new adult!!
September 6, 2016
FIVE FIRST LOVE STARS.
"They are unbelievable together and soon they realise that this is a love of a lifetime."
Toni Aleo can absolutely do no wrong. In my eyes her writing style is always solid, engaging and most of all filled with amazing characters and kindle-clenching, heart racing style romance. If I thought I loved this authors writing before then this book has just taken my Toni Aleo addiction and launched it to another level. With plenty of drama and more than enough sexy 'Boarded by love' is a new adult romance that readers do not want to miss out on. Toni Aleo is an author that creates stories that I will always be excited to read and as always it was time well spent reading this gorgeous novel.
What's it all about?
He's the one she can't resist. She's the one to change his game. From the moment that they meet Jude Sinclair and Claire Anderson can not deny the attraction between them. Jude is the typical sports star long term commitment and relationship status is far from what he's interested in but when he meets the fiery and talented red head, Claire that all may have to change. Claire Anderson is as strong as she is wounded, fighting against a troubling past she can't quite believe that she's caught the attention of the college player. Soon enough Claire and Jude succumb to feelings that they can longer ignore, but true love never comes that easily. Lies and mistrust get in the way of a perfect ending and they both have to fight for what they love.
What did I love?
'Boarded by love' has a great opening, instantly the heart strings were pulled and I was excited to see what Toni Aleo would create by venturing into this genre and creating a new adult book. I can say with full confidence that I was not disappointed, from the start I felt invested in the story line and I could not forget about these characters, from beginning to end I was hooked on reading more about Claire and Jude and I'm just about desperate to get this book in paperback and on my bookshelf. For Those readers who are familiar with the 'Assassins' series you will have already met the fiery red head, Claire and as a result I was already on my way to falling for her character. Having already previously read about this heroine I was ready to see how Claire's story would unravel and I could not have hoped for more, Toni Aleo took my expectations shook it up added plenty of steamy sexy love and never to forget about romance and handed it right back to me. As an avid reader of new adult books I'm fully convinced that people who are not familiar with the characters or assassins series will fall just as much in love with this authors style as I have, ultimately 'boarded by love' is so addictive and so well written it's a winning page turner. The characters were fantastic, I adored Jude and Claire it's not often that you get a hero and heroine so equally loveable but Toni nailed the character development in this novel a hard feat for most authors these days it seems, but in this novel It was no hardship to adore them both and I fell for them and hard. Throughout the book Toni Aleo gives her readers a front row seat into young love and all it's excitement, the sex scenes where erotic and fabulously original; this couple find a way to get down to the naughty business in the best of places. But aside from the sexy times I really fell head first into this story and loved the characters fun banter and heart to hearts just as much if not more than the heart thumping toe curling loved up scenes. Overall I think it's fairly obvious and safe to say that I'm a huge fan of this authors writing skills, and I'm never going to pass up being apart of the Toni Aleo world of romance. Here is an author who puts heart and soul into all she does and I'm one self confessed Aleo addict.
Final thoughts ...
Deliciously romantic and enough sexy to get the heart pumping 'boarded by love' has the three essential must have's; sexy seductive and sweet. Yes admittedly the book rubs shoulders with insta lust and love but as the story unraveled it didn't really bother me enough to take away the enjoyment of this fabulous novel. Instead I was gifted with a story of the excitement of young and impulsive love followed by disappointment and betrayal, a novel which showcased the perfect balance of messy love and young hearts making relatable mistakes. Claire and Jude fell into unstoppable first love with promises of forever and I fell in love right alongside their unravelling story. Toni Aleo is an author who grabs all what I love about reading and romance and creates novels for me to love. I can't wait for other readers to fall in love too. Enjoy ... Kisses.
*BETA reader for the gorgeous author, Toni Aleo in exchange for my overly enthusiastic thoughts.*
"They are unbelievable together and soon they realise that this is a love of a lifetime."
Toni Aleo can absolutely do no wrong. In my eyes her writing style is always solid, engaging and most of all filled with amazing characters and kindle-clenching, heart racing style romance. If I thought I loved this authors writing before then this book has just taken my Toni Aleo addiction and launched it to another level. With plenty of drama and more than enough sexy 'Boarded by love' is a new adult romance that readers do not want to miss out on. Toni Aleo is an author that creates stories that I will always be excited to read and as always it was time well spent reading this gorgeous novel.
What's it all about?
He's the one she can't resist. She's the one to change his game. From the moment that they meet Jude Sinclair and Claire Anderson can not deny the attraction between them. Jude is the typical sports star long term commitment and relationship status is far from what he's interested in but when he meets the fiery and talented red head, Claire that all may have to change. Claire Anderson is as strong as she is wounded, fighting against a troubling past she can't quite believe that she's caught the attention of the college player. Soon enough Claire and Jude succumb to feelings that they can longer ignore, but true love never comes that easily. Lies and mistrust get in the way of a perfect ending and they both have to fight for what they love.
What did I love?
'Boarded by love' has a great opening, instantly the heart strings were pulled and I was excited to see what Toni Aleo would create by venturing into this genre and creating a new adult book. I can say with full confidence that I was not disappointed, from the start I felt invested in the story line and I could not forget about these characters, from beginning to end I was hooked on reading more about Claire and Jude and I'm just about desperate to get this book in paperback and on my bookshelf. For Those readers who are familiar with the 'Assassins' series you will have already met the fiery red head, Claire and as a result I was already on my way to falling for her character. Having already previously read about this heroine I was ready to see how Claire's story would unravel and I could not have hoped for more, Toni Aleo took my expectations shook it up added plenty of steamy sexy love and never to forget about romance and handed it right back to me. As an avid reader of new adult books I'm fully convinced that people who are not familiar with the characters or assassins series will fall just as much in love with this authors style as I have, ultimately 'boarded by love' is so addictive and so well written it's a winning page turner. The characters were fantastic, I adored Jude and Claire it's not often that you get a hero and heroine so equally loveable but Toni nailed the character development in this novel a hard feat for most authors these days it seems, but in this novel It was no hardship to adore them both and I fell for them and hard. Throughout the book Toni Aleo gives her readers a front row seat into young love and all it's excitement, the sex scenes where erotic and fabulously original; this couple find a way to get down to the naughty business in the best of places. But aside from the sexy times I really fell head first into this story and loved the characters fun banter and heart to hearts just as much if not more than the heart thumping toe curling loved up scenes. Overall I think it's fairly obvious and safe to say that I'm a huge fan of this authors writing skills, and I'm never going to pass up being apart of the Toni Aleo world of romance. Here is an author who puts heart and soul into all she does and I'm one self confessed Aleo addict.
Final thoughts ...
Deliciously romantic and enough sexy to get the heart pumping 'boarded by love' has the three essential must have's; sexy seductive and sweet. Yes admittedly the book rubs shoulders with insta lust and love but as the story unraveled it didn't really bother me enough to take away the enjoyment of this fabulous novel. Instead I was gifted with a story of the excitement of young and impulsive love followed by disappointment and betrayal, a novel which showcased the perfect balance of messy love and young hearts making relatable mistakes. Claire and Jude fell into unstoppable first love with promises of forever and I fell in love right alongside their unravelling story. Toni Aleo is an author who grabs all what I love about reading and romance and creates novels for me to love. I can't wait for other readers to fall in love too. Enjoy ... Kisses.
*BETA reader for the gorgeous author, Toni Aleo in exchange for my overly enthusiastic thoughts.*
April 30, 2015
Re-read 4/30/15: After finishing Clipped By Love, I felt like revisiting this again, so I re-read this little gem last night when I couldn't sleep...Le Swoon.
10+++++ I Love You More Stars - Perfect for when you need some OTT sweetness
Me + This Book =
I remember several years ago - before I discovered goodreads - I stumbled upon the awesomeness that was Taking Shots via a random kindle/amazon search one day and I was like, holy shit, this ish is awesome, I am in love.
I have loved or really enjoyed pretty much everything Toni Aleo has put out since, but Boarded by Love was just exceptional IMO.
You know that oftentimes rare and elusive book moment when you are in the thick of reading something awesome AND YOU REALIZE IT at the time?
It's like a damned unicorn.
That was this book for me.
Jude was up there with Shea (my all time favorite Assassin) in the awesome department and I really liked Claire. There was a bit of insta-love at the beginning, but Aleo makes it believable in a way that most authors don't. Her ability to include small, intimate details in the storyline and in the characters' thought processes make the story and the characters so rich and three dimensional.
My favorite thing about Aleo's books is that she gives the reader the perfect amount of drama and angst - enough to make you really feel, get emotionally involved, and sit on the edge of your seat - but not so much that you want to vomit and chug a 5th of Jack Daniels.
And not only does Jude/Claire's story rock the casbah, we get some awesome cameos from Phillip, Reese, the God that is Shea Adler, and other Assassin crew members too.
So in short, Toni Aleo, you rock my bookshelf with this one girl and I love you hardcore.
10+++++ I Love You More Stars - Perfect for when you need some OTT sweetness
Me + This Book =
I remember several years ago - before I discovered goodreads - I stumbled upon the awesomeness that was Taking Shots via a random kindle/amazon search one day and I was like, holy shit, this ish is awesome, I am in love.
I have loved or really enjoyed pretty much everything Toni Aleo has put out since, but Boarded by Love was just exceptional IMO.
You know that oftentimes rare and elusive book moment when you are in the thick of reading something awesome AND YOU REALIZE IT at the time?
It's like a damned unicorn.
That was this book for me.
Jude was up there with Shea (my all time favorite Assassin) in the awesome department and I really liked Claire. There was a bit of insta-love at the beginning, but Aleo makes it believable in a way that most authors don't. Her ability to include small, intimate details in the storyline and in the characters' thought processes make the story and the characters so rich and three dimensional.
My favorite thing about Aleo's books is that she gives the reader the perfect amount of drama and angst - enough to make you really feel, get emotionally involved, and sit on the edge of your seat - but not so much that you want to vomit and chug a 5th of Jack Daniels.
And not only does Jude/Claire's story rock the casbah, we get some awesome cameos from Phillip, Reese, the God that is Shea Adler, and other Assassin crew members too.
So in short, Toni Aleo, you rock my bookshelf with this one girl and I love you hardcore.
July 7, 2020
**ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review**
Title:Boarded by Love
Series:Bellevue Bullies #1
Author:Toni Aleo
Release date: September 8, 2014
Rating:3 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA:
I'm fairly new to Toni Aleo's books, but there's no doubt that she's a talent in romance. She has a lot of loyal fans. Her Assassins series is especially loved so this new foray into sports romance (this time in the New Adult sub genre) I felt was worth a shot. Unfortunately, this particular book wasn't all that I had hoped it would be. There were too many things that I don't care to see in New Adult-but this is at a personal level, I understand that not everyone is going to feel the way I do. But for me, I struggled between a 2 and 3 rating.
Claire had a rough childhood growing up. Her mother was a drug addicted stripper who neglected her and brought numerous sleaze ball guys around who hit on her. This led to a lot of screwed up years where she allowed men to use her because she didn't have any self-worth. I felt that her background was strong and immediately turned my sympathies toward her. After her Uncle took over her care, she slowly started having faith, hope, and an outlet through dance. (This is all in the previous series' book 5)
My favorite thing about this book was the fact that the heroine was a talented dancer and choreographer. There aren't enough books about dancers-I love to read about them but I don't come across them as often as I'd like.
Jude is the campus star athlete/manwhore. New concept, right? Jude is where some of my issues lie. I knew ahead of time what his personality was going to be after reading the synopsis. So maybe it's my own dang fault for still reading it. It's just that sometimes, it's done in a way that I can handle.
Why...
WHY..
WHY!...
must the star athlete in 98% of NA be a raging manwhore every time? He can still be the "bad boy" without being a conceited player. And as soon as he sets his sight on the heroine, he's a changed man and won't look at another girl? I'm just so done with that setup. I need a more gradual and natural progression in the relationship. I need to see their feelings built on more than insta-lust which leads immediately after to insta-love. All Jude can talk about is how in love he is with her luscious booty and how hot she is. I liked how crazy he was about her, but I wish it would have felt more real to me.
Another thing that bothered me was the way Jude and Claire talked/acted around each other. The author was going for cute and sweet but the sweetness bled into sickly sweet at times. It was too much. It was like 15 year olds on the phone..."You hang up." "No, you hang up." "No, you..."
"Are you annoyed?" My mouth turns up at the side as I slowly shake my head. "I can't be annoyed when I'm looking at you."
Or their texting:
Hey Jude: btw...I miss you
Claire: btw...I miss u way, way more.
Hey Jude: I doubt that.
Grrr.
And one last thing I have to mention-I was baffled to say the least. This is the weirdest simile I've ever heard in a book...
I know she feels every inch of me and I'm going to make her wetter than a pool in a second, but first I need to nip this in the bud.
Wha-???? That does not provoke sexy thoughts. Moving on...
Ok, so the main conflicts are Claire and Jude having to fight for their relationship because the entire school population has doomed them to fail because of his past with women.
Her inability to be honest with Jude through the whole book about her burlesque dancing for fear of him not understanding it's based on her need for security.
And Phillip's distrust of Jude and his refusal to give him a chance.
Of all the conflicts, I actually enjoyed the last one a lot. I loved how overprotective he was with Claire and it made me laugh so many times how he was like a grumpy bear around them. I expected him to get out a shotgun and threaten Jude with it at any time. And I LOVED the end when he and Jude get in their final argument about it. It was pure awesome!
While there was a lot of things that bothered me, I still thought there were plenty of funny moments. I just wish that there could have been a more unique character in Jude like there was in Claire. I thought they were very sweet with each other, but a lot of times, the sweetness went into overload and was a bit much for me. Their chemistry was great from the very beginning so that was one thing I thought was well done. While this one wasn't an enthusiastic winner for me, I would still read more from this author. But in this case, I felt like I needed a little bit more.
FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:
Title:Boarded by Love
Series:Bellevue Bullies #1
Author:Toni Aleo
Release date: September 8, 2014
Rating:3 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA:
I'm fairly new to Toni Aleo's books, but there's no doubt that she's a talent in romance. She has a lot of loyal fans. Her Assassins series is especially loved so this new foray into sports romance (this time in the New Adult sub genre) I felt was worth a shot. Unfortunately, this particular book wasn't all that I had hoped it would be. There were too many things that I don't care to see in New Adult-but this is at a personal level, I understand that not everyone is going to feel the way I do. But for me, I struggled between a 2 and 3 rating.
Claire had a rough childhood growing up. Her mother was a drug addicted stripper who neglected her and brought numerous sleaze ball guys around who hit on her. This led to a lot of screwed up years where she allowed men to use her because she didn't have any self-worth. I felt that her background was strong and immediately turned my sympathies toward her. After her Uncle took over her care, she slowly started having faith, hope, and an outlet through dance. (This is all in the previous series' book 5)
My favorite thing about this book was the fact that the heroine was a talented dancer and choreographer. There aren't enough books about dancers-I love to read about them but I don't come across them as often as I'd like.
Jude is the campus star athlete/manwhore. New concept, right? Jude is where some of my issues lie. I knew ahead of time what his personality was going to be after reading the synopsis. So maybe it's my own dang fault for still reading it. It's just that sometimes, it's done in a way that I can handle.
Why...
WHY..
WHY!...
must the star athlete in 98% of NA be a raging manwhore every time? He can still be the "bad boy" without being a conceited player. And as soon as he sets his sight on the heroine, he's a changed man and won't look at another girl? I'm just so done with that setup. I need a more gradual and natural progression in the relationship. I need to see their feelings built on more than insta-lust which leads immediately after to insta-love. All Jude can talk about is how in love he is with her luscious booty and how hot she is. I liked how crazy he was about her, but I wish it would have felt more real to me.
Another thing that bothered me was the way Jude and Claire talked/acted around each other. The author was going for cute and sweet but the sweetness bled into sickly sweet at times. It was too much. It was like 15 year olds on the phone..."You hang up." "No, you hang up." "No, you..."
"Are you annoyed?" My mouth turns up at the side as I slowly shake my head. "I can't be annoyed when I'm looking at you."
Or their texting:
Hey Jude: btw...I miss you
Claire: btw...I miss u way, way more.
Hey Jude: I doubt that.
Grrr.
And one last thing I have to mention-I was baffled to say the least. This is the weirdest simile I've ever heard in a book...
I know she feels every inch of me and I'm going to make her wetter than a pool in a second, but first I need to nip this in the bud.
Wha-???? That does not provoke sexy thoughts. Moving on...
Ok, so the main conflicts are Claire and Jude having to fight for their relationship because the entire school population has doomed them to fail because of his past with women.
Her inability to be honest with Jude through the whole book about her burlesque dancing for fear of him not understanding it's based on her need for security.
And Phillip's distrust of Jude and his refusal to give him a chance.
Of all the conflicts, I actually enjoyed the last one a lot. I loved how overprotective he was with Claire and it made me laugh so many times how he was like a grumpy bear around them. I expected him to get out a shotgun and threaten Jude with it at any time. And I LOVED the end when he and Jude get in their final argument about it. It was pure awesome!
While there was a lot of things that bothered me, I still thought there were plenty of funny moments. I just wish that there could have been a more unique character in Jude like there was in Claire. I thought they were very sweet with each other, but a lot of times, the sweetness went into overload and was a bit much for me. Their chemistry was great from the very beginning so that was one thing I thought was well done. While this one wasn't an enthusiastic winner for me, I would still read more from this author. But in this case, I felt like I needed a little bit more.
FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:
January 9, 2016
“I’m completely in love with this guy. It’s been fast, it’s been crazy, but it’s our love story.”
Boarded by Love took my breath away the moment I started reading it. It’s a kind of book that I consider my weakness. The book was packed with certain elements that I was looking for in a New Adult genre and although there were some parts that are cheesy, I did not mind it because I knew it’s going to make me fall in love. I love the sporty theme, the romance, the oozing hot chemistry of the characters, and the writing style of the author. Not to mention that Jude Sinclair is one of the best male leads ever.
I found myself truly invested in this book, but when I reached 70% and beyond, the fire slowly began to disappear. It’s because the lines, the scenes, and everything else were getting redundant. The romance and the daily cheesiness also made me feel wary at some point. It didn’t also help the fact that the female lead Claire Anderson lied to Jude and decided to keep her secret hidden until she was caught by Jude and she became guilty about it. She really drove me nuts! And because of her attitude, my feelings toward the book changed. She basically destroyed it for me.
But overall, I still like the book. I love how it ended. It was satisfying and so sweet. It’s one of the unforgettable NA reads I’ve ever had. I’m not closing my doors for this author because I will still read her other books for sure. I have this feeling that I will like them more.
Rating: 3 Stars
Boarded by Love took my breath away the moment I started reading it. It’s a kind of book that I consider my weakness. The book was packed with certain elements that I was looking for in a New Adult genre and although there were some parts that are cheesy, I did not mind it because I knew it’s going to make me fall in love. I love the sporty theme, the romance, the oozing hot chemistry of the characters, and the writing style of the author. Not to mention that Jude Sinclair is one of the best male leads ever.
I found myself truly invested in this book, but when I reached 70% and beyond, the fire slowly began to disappear. It’s because the lines, the scenes, and everything else were getting redundant. The romance and the daily cheesiness also made me feel wary at some point. It didn’t also help the fact that the female lead Claire Anderson lied to Jude and decided to keep her secret hidden until she was caught by Jude and she became guilty about it. She really drove me nuts! And because of her attitude, my feelings toward the book changed. She basically destroyed it for me.
But overall, I still like the book. I love how it ended. It was satisfying and so sweet. It’s one of the unforgettable NA reads I’ve ever had. I’m not closing my doors for this author because I will still read her other books for sure. I have this feeling that I will like them more.
Rating: 3 Stars
August 25, 2014
☆ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆
2-3 "Ariel-"Trouble" stars!!
“I knew you were a game changer, Claire Anderson.”
I grin as I look over at him, meeting his lazy gaze.
-“And I knew you were trouble.”
My initial thoughts: Ooh! Phillip Anderson's niece, Claire, gets a book?! *hell yeah!*
And it gets published on my birthday?!! *squeals* Oh yes, this is going to be a glorious beginning! I'm in love!♥♥
↑ a.k.a Ms. Toni Aleo :)
And then after reading:
*Cues sad face*
So before I begin, let me first say how much a HUGE FAN of Toni Aleo's I am. That said, I hope you can see how it pains me to rate this read so-so for me. Not great but not bad either. While I finally got to see Phillip’s niece, Claire, get bitten by the love bug and go from troubled teen to budding dance phenomenon, it regrettably just didn’t tug at my heartstrings.
I think what stunted it for me was the insta-love connection that Claire and Jude experience once they meet. Their relationship developed too rapidly, even with the 14-day trial of no sex/strictly friendship rule, and overtook a substantial amount of the book with its progression and amount of mushiness and smutt scenes entwined.
*Made me feel nauseated and distracted from the over all plot message and heart of the story.*
I mean, how could a man-whoring playboy go from screwing every girl left to right, to want to give up his privileged ways for a girl he’s just met? I don’t get it.
It made me think as if their relationship was primarily based on lust and physical attraction at times because they were always talking about how hot/good-looking another was, constantly kissing and feeling each other up, and continuously claiming how much they loved each other without getting to the nitty-gritty about each other’s circumstances.
Then Claire’s withheld secret from Jude was just frustrating to say the least. She should have been fully honest with Jude from the beginning, as much advised by Reese and others, since she wasn't doing anything wrong and it ended up coming up to haunt her in the end. BIG TIME. Why am I mentioning this, you may ask? Well, this once again stems from their “love” skipping the initial dating stages and moving irrationally from friendship into the lovers phase too quickly which ended up causing Claire to not have full trust in Jude.
But that’s just my opinion of course.
On the bright side, I did like the individual personalities of both Claire and Jude. Both were courageous individuals with trying ordeals and are trying to establish a future for themselves.
Then add on, the reunion of our fellow Assassins men, women, and children from Toni’s previous hockey series, the Assassins, and I was in hockey Heaven!!
I swear, I was literally taken back a dose of nostalgia as this was what made me love Toni Aleo in the first place. *does a happy dance*
So over all, its mixed feelings for me on this one guys. I just don’t know....It's between a 2 or 3 star read for me. *cries sullenly*
2-3 "Ariel-"Trouble" stars!!
“I knew you were a game changer, Claire Anderson.”
I grin as I look over at him, meeting his lazy gaze.
-“And I knew you were trouble.”
My initial thoughts: Ooh! Phillip Anderson's niece, Claire, gets a book?! *hell yeah!*
And it gets published on my birthday?!! *squeals* Oh yes, this is going to be a glorious beginning! I'm in love!♥♥
↑ a.k.a Ms. Toni Aleo :)
And then after reading:
*Cues sad face*
So before I begin, let me first say how much a HUGE FAN of Toni Aleo's I am. That said, I hope you can see how it pains me to rate this read so-so for me. Not great but not bad either. While I finally got to see Phillip’s niece, Claire, get bitten by the love bug and go from troubled teen to budding dance phenomenon, it regrettably just didn’t tug at my heartstrings.
I think what stunted it for me was the insta-love connection that Claire and Jude experience once they meet. Their relationship developed too rapidly, even with the 14-day trial of no sex/strictly friendship rule, and overtook a substantial amount of the book with its progression and amount of mushiness and smutt scenes entwined.
*Made me feel nauseated and distracted from the over all plot message and heart of the story.*
I mean, how could a man-whoring playboy go from screwing every girl left to right, to want to give up his privileged ways for a girl he’s just met? I don’t get it.
It made me think as if their relationship was primarily based on lust and physical attraction at times because they were always talking about how hot/good-looking another was, constantly kissing and feeling each other up, and continuously claiming how much they loved each other without getting to the nitty-gritty about each other’s circumstances.
Then Claire’s withheld secret from Jude was just frustrating to say the least. She should have been fully honest with Jude from the beginning, as much advised by Reese and others, since she wasn't doing anything wrong and it ended up coming up to haunt her in the end. BIG TIME. Why am I mentioning this, you may ask? Well, this once again stems from their “love” skipping the initial dating stages and moving irrationally from friendship into the lovers phase too quickly which ended up causing Claire to not have full trust in Jude.
But that’s just my opinion of course.
On the bright side, I did like the individual personalities of both Claire and Jude. Both were courageous individuals with trying ordeals and are trying to establish a future for themselves.
Then add on, the reunion of our fellow Assassins men, women, and children from Toni’s previous hockey series, the Assassins, and I was in hockey Heaven!!
I swear, I was literally taken back a dose of nostalgia as this was what made me love Toni Aleo in the first place. *does a happy dance*
So over all, its mixed feelings for me on this one guys. I just don’t know....It's between a 2 or 3 star read for me. *cries sullenly*
September 24, 2014
4 Sweet Stars
Remember Claire? She’s back and now is time for her story.
She meets Jude, the star of her college hockey team. They meet, they fell in love.
But when someone has a past like Claire and secrets like the ones she doesn’t want to share, falling in love isn’t easy.
Neither of their lives is perfect, but somehow their love seems to be. Until the day their pasts, fears and secrets comes barreling into their lives. And the question is: how many blows can a relationship take before it breaks?
Rating: 4 Stars.
Storyline: We all know that Toni Aleo is great writing about hockey players. What we didn’t know is that she’s also great writing new adult…and in this book she made a perfect combination of the two. Although it has some unnecessary drama and it was too cheesy at some moments, it was a sweet reading and I can’t wait for the next book.
Writing Style: First person. Dual POV. Well written and addictive.
Character Development: I loved to know more about Claire and she really is a strong girl. She had some stupid decisions but c’mon…. who doesn’t in college? Jude was also pretty great. He was sweet, sexy, loyal and brutally honest. I loved that about him. Yeah, we was a little stubborn near the end but he quickly recovered so it was all good.
Steam: Some heated scenes.
HEA:
Remember Claire? She’s back and now is time for her story.
She meets Jude, the star of her college hockey team. They meet, they fell in love.
But when someone has a past like Claire and secrets like the ones she doesn’t want to share, falling in love isn’t easy.
Neither of their lives is perfect, but somehow their love seems to be. Until the day their pasts, fears and secrets comes barreling into their lives. And the question is: how many blows can a relationship take before it breaks?
Rating: 4 Stars.
Storyline: We all know that Toni Aleo is great writing about hockey players. What we didn’t know is that she’s also great writing new adult…and in this book she made a perfect combination of the two. Although it has some unnecessary drama and it was too cheesy at some moments, it was a sweet reading and I can’t wait for the next book.
Writing Style: First person. Dual POV. Well written and addictive.
Character Development: I loved to know more about Claire and she really is a strong girl. She had some stupid decisions but c’mon…. who doesn’t in college? Jude was also pretty great. He was sweet, sexy, loyal and brutally honest. I loved that about him. Yeah, we was a little stubborn near the end but he quickly recovered so it was all good.
Steam: Some heated scenes.
HEA:
Read
September 22, 2014DNF at 24% for me
I just couldnt do it. I tried. Honestly I did. I put it down, picked it back up. Rinse and Repeat. But I couldnt believe the insta EVERYTHING between Jude and Claire.
Claire had a crap childhood. Slept around at a very early age. Very promiscuous. A rebel. A kid who stopped caring because no one else gave a shit. Until her uncle Phillip. At 16 she stopped acting out and sleeping around. Now she's a soph in college, working on the side as a burlesqe dancer.
Jude- star hockey player, campus hot shot and ladies man. All the girls know the score. Once shot, that's all and he moves on. Typical college playboy. He's also set to hit the pros.
Jude and Claire meet, and it was cute. But the way things progressed between them was at an unbelievable rate, which doesnt always bother me, but this time it did. They were such balls of mush. It was sickening instead of endearing. And I wasnt able to get on their love train.
Here are a few of the lines that didnt work for me. Mind you, this is only the first 24% of the book. One time they hooked up.
I was left feeling like..
I just couldnt do it. I tried. Honestly I did. I put it down, picked it back up. Rinse and Repeat. But I couldnt believe the insta EVERYTHING between Jude and Claire.
Claire had a crap childhood. Slept around at a very early age. Very promiscuous. A rebel. A kid who stopped caring because no one else gave a shit. Until her uncle Phillip. At 16 she stopped acting out and sleeping around. Now she's a soph in college, working on the side as a burlesqe dancer.
Jude- star hockey player, campus hot shot and ladies man. All the girls know the score. Once shot, that's all and he moves on. Typical college playboy. He's also set to hit the pros.
Jude and Claire meet, and it was cute. But the way things progressed between them was at an unbelievable rate, which doesnt always bother me, but this time it did. They were such balls of mush. It was sickening instead of endearing. And I wasnt able to get on their love train.
Here are a few of the lines that didnt work for me. Mind you, this is only the first 24% of the book. One time they hooked up.
"I think he's fabulous, amazing, perfect, and I cant believe how girlie I turn when he sets those sharp green eyes on me"
"So, lets do this. Were dating and after, what, ten dates? We'll decide if we want to become Facebook official?"
"You make me so shy and giggly"
"Oh, heart be still and stay in the box!"
I was left feeling like..
December 30, 2020
***As I was listen I thought to myself I have listened to this before. And then I checked and yep I had.
I didn’t love the dramalama and my rating went down a lot from the first time I listened. 2.5 Stars.***
4.5 Boarded by Love Stars
Before we even talk about this book. I have to say I am a HUGE fan of The Assassins Series! And no I didn't know this was a spin-off or I would have read the dang book a lot sooner!!
Ok now on to this book, when we meet Claire in Philip’s book I wanted to know more about her. So imagine my surprise when listening and this book is about Claire, I kind of smacked my forehead with the heel of my hand like duh!
Ok moving on, she was exactly how I thought she would be and so, so much more. I am so proud of her and I know it’s a book and she is just a character but if you read Philip's book you would understand.
I love the relationship Claire has with Philip and especially with Reese. <3 I swooned I had tears and I rooted or Claire.
But what makes this book even that extra bit special was I fell for Hey Jude! Who wouldn't I ask you he was charming and charismatic and downright smooth. And I love that in a hero!
And together Jude and Claire are Aces! I mean it they made my heart melt so many times.
The only thing I didn't like but totally get was the dramalama right at the end, I did think Jude took it just a little too far. And that was just my opinion.
I loved the dual narration like a lot Joe is a favorite of mine and it has nothing to do with his name totally being like my husbands…lol
Felicity really brings the emotion to Claire that I was hoping for. So I am very happy with this audio and if you are a fan of Toni Aleo’s work then click and buy this book it’s a heck of an audiobook!
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
I didn’t love the dramalama and my rating went down a lot from the first time I listened. 2.5 Stars.***
4.5 Boarded by Love Stars
Before we even talk about this book. I have to say I am a HUGE fan of The Assassins Series! And no I didn't know this was a spin-off or I would have read the dang book a lot sooner!!
Ok now on to this book, when we meet Claire in Philip’s book I wanted to know more about her. So imagine my surprise when listening and this book is about Claire, I kind of smacked my forehead with the heel of my hand like duh!
Ok moving on, she was exactly how I thought she would be and so, so much more. I am so proud of her and I know it’s a book and she is just a character but if you read Philip's book you would understand.
I love the relationship Claire has with Philip and especially with Reese. <3 I swooned I had tears and I rooted or Claire.
But what makes this book even that extra bit special was I fell for Hey Jude! Who wouldn't I ask you he was charming and charismatic and downright smooth. And I love that in a hero!
And together Jude and Claire are Aces! I mean it they made my heart melt so many times.
The only thing I didn't like but totally get was the dramalama right at the end, I did think Jude took it just a little too far. And that was just my opinion.
I loved the dual narration like a lot Joe is a favorite of mine and it has nothing to do with his name totally being like my husbands…lol
Felicity really brings the emotion to Claire that I was hoping for. So I am very happy with this audio and if you are a fan of Toni Aleo’s work then click and buy this book it’s a heck of an audiobook!
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
January 29, 2018
Re-Read 1/29/18 and Review Added.
Boarded by Love was the first book in the Bellevue Bullies Series and a spin off from Toni Aleo’s Assassins series. I loved it the first time I read it and I’m not surprised I loved it just as much the second time.
Jude Sinclair was the cocky, arrogant, respected and uber talented captain of the Bellevue Bullies college hockey team. He was NHL Bound and the only question was how high he would be drafted. He always enjoyed his pick of no strings, one night stands until he met his game changer, Claire.
Claire Anderson was introduced to us in Breaking Away, book 6 of the Assassins series, as Phillip Anderson’s niece. She was now beautiful, independent, confident in herself and driven. After her horrific childhood until she was saved by her uncle at sixteen, she was focused on making her own way in life.
The foundation of the story was the relationship building between Jude and Claire; however, true to Aleo’s style, two secondary stories were running simultaneously - Jude and Claire’s separate backstories. They all merged in the end, but it kept it intriguing, entertaining, fast paced and emotional.
Boarded by Love was well written, well developed, and charming. There were a few editing errors, but nothing numerous and too distracting.
All in all, I was reminded why this was one of my all time favorite series and why Jude and Claire rank among my favorite characters. I may need to re-read the entire series as this re-read was well worth it.
Boarded by Love was the first book in the Bellevue Bullies Series and a spin off from Toni Aleo’s Assassins series. I loved it the first time I read it and I’m not surprised I loved it just as much the second time.
Jude Sinclair was the cocky, arrogant, respected and uber talented captain of the Bellevue Bullies college hockey team. He was NHL Bound and the only question was how high he would be drafted. He always enjoyed his pick of no strings, one night stands until he met his game changer, Claire.
Claire Anderson was introduced to us in Breaking Away, book 6 of the Assassins series, as Phillip Anderson’s niece. She was now beautiful, independent, confident in herself and driven. After her horrific childhood until she was saved by her uncle at sixteen, she was focused on making her own way in life.
The foundation of the story was the relationship building between Jude and Claire; however, true to Aleo’s style, two secondary stories were running simultaneously - Jude and Claire’s separate backstories. They all merged in the end, but it kept it intriguing, entertaining, fast paced and emotional.
Boarded by Love was well written, well developed, and charming. There were a few editing errors, but nothing numerous and too distracting.
All in all, I was reminded why this was one of my all time favorite series and why Jude and Claire rank among my favorite characters. I may need to re-read the entire series as this re-read was well worth it.
September 21, 2016
3.5 "hey Jude, dont be afraid..." stars
Oh, damn, damn, damn...
I actually wanted to like this story more but i just couldnt... *bows her head*
Even though i have read the book in one day, i had the nausiating feeling of the story taking too bloody long to resolve itself from a, for me, a predictable mess of a not very original storyline!
I liked the characters, young love, the issues of being in love and dealing with the "real" emotions that, in this case, should not have come along with love -such as mistrust, impatience, unreason, self-doubt, insecurities...
but it s a young overwhelming love/passion/lust thing so i guess i am knocking my head against the wood with this outlining....
But still, for me it dragged, sometimes unnecessary, and although it all ended in a sweet bliss, the way to get there was somewhat childishly angsty stubbornly ignored by the hero...and i guess i had no patience to bear with him...
My bad...
But hey, instead of referrencing the Beatles' "Hey Jude" since that s the name of our hero...i 'll go with these:
But if i let you go
I will never know
What my life would be
Holding you close to me.
Will i ever see
You smiling back at me
How will I know
If i let you go...
"If I let you go" by Westlife
And thank fuck, he wised up and did the right thing...
But it wasnt enough to win me over!
December 31, 2020
✧ 4 'hey Jude' stars ✧
tHe BAd
⤷ hated what he said to her about ending up like her mother. the worst part was that she didn’t say anything to him, i just wanted to shake her like girl whattt??
⤷ the "issue" took a lot of time to resolve
⤷ how rude he was to her (towards the end). i know that he was mad, but seriously, it does not excuse his behaviour
⤷ the fact that she kept 'it' a secret, it got annoying after a while
⤷ the book was kind of long, a lot of things could've been cut back like the time it took for them to figure stuff out. also, the thing and the investor was predictable.
ThE gOoD
⤷ he was extremely sweet to her the rest of the time
⤷ the undivided attention he gave her all the time
⤷ they were seriously cute together
⤷ it made me cry
⤷ did i mention that Jude was a gem?? he seriously loved her
overall, super cute. loved the relationship/plot development. only, the "issue" took a lot of time to resolve and it wasn't even a big one. i also hated the things he said to her in the heat of the moment and the fact that she repeatedly lied to him. but neither of them were wrong in the situation, and i got both of their reasoning. again, i really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it!
tHe BAd
⤷ hated what he said to her about ending up like her mother. the worst part was that she didn’t say anything to him, i just wanted to shake her like girl whattt??
⤷ the "issue" took a lot of time to resolve
⤷ how rude he was to her (towards the end). i know that he was mad, but seriously, it does not excuse his behaviour
⤷ the fact that she kept 'it' a secret, it got annoying after a while
⤷ the book was kind of long, a lot of things could've been cut back like the time it took for them to figure stuff out. also, the thing and the investor was predictable.
ThE gOoD
⤷ he was extremely sweet to her the rest of the time
⤷ the undivided attention he gave her all the time
⤷ they were seriously cute together
⤷ it made me cry
⤷ did i mention that Jude was a gem?? he seriously loved her
overall, super cute. loved the relationship/plot development. only, the "issue" took a lot of time to resolve and it wasn't even a big one. i also hated the things he said to her in the heat of the moment and the fact that she repeatedly lied to him. but neither of them were wrong in the situation, and i got both of their reasoning. again, i really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it!
December 6, 2017
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
So this story did not really work for me. It was way too long, way too repetitive, way too cutsy romantic and the girl got to be incredibly annoying by the end. It was not for me. Some spoilers ahead.
So first up let's talk about Claire. She is a dancer and works at a Burlesque club. Cool. No problem. That was huge when I was in college and no one would have batted an eyelash if you told them this. Yet Claire feels she has to hide it from everyone cause she doesn't want them to think she is one of those terrible strippers! I mean she doesn't strip naked!! It is a respectable business unlike being a stripper. Or so says the characters in the book. So you know. This is great. Really she is kind of judgmental about other girls. All the slut comments were not cool! Like "You think I'm gonna sleep with some guy I just met? I'm not a slut" Ugh. Seriously? Why? Why do this? Why make these super judgmental characters? I don't like that, especially when it is seen as normal and okay.
I don't really know why she has this big hang up about how Jude will hate her if she tells him what she does. I didn't get it. Why not just tell him? The story goes on and on and on about how she can't tell him, he will hate her, she just needs a little more money and then she will stop and he will never find out. Yeah, that is a great plan. Cause a) those plans always work and b) if you can't tell the love of your life who you actually are are you guys really that in love? So lying to him all the time is better than just telling him and seeing what happens? I know she had some bs reason she HAD to keep doing it, she just needs a little more money, but I wasn't buying it. The writing didn't make me believe she had a real issue with being stable herself so she doesn't depend on anyone. I know it told me she had issues because of her mom, but I didn't believe it. It wasn't really shown to me so...it didn't work. It just made me keep yelling at her to just tell Jude already!! It is not that big of a deal!! If he hates you for it then you guys obviously aren't meant to be together like you think. The whole last part of the book seemed to just be Claire worried about telling Jude/Jude finding out she dances burlesque and not just choreographs the dance routines. It got to the point where I was just like please let him find out so Claire can stop her poor me I need to tell him but I can't routine.
Oh, one other thing about Claire, I hate hate hate that at the beginning she is all I will call you Hey Jude. Like the song. Cause your name is Jude. Then she would all be "See you later, Hey Jude" or something which no. Just no. If you wanted to use Hey Jude as some stupid nickname fine, but at least make it work. Simply switching around the above - "Hey Jude, see you later!" would work. Not with the Hey Jude at the end so it just makes me cringe when I read it. Every time. It would be easy to make it work, but it is like the author didn't want to or something. Maybe it is just me, but it bugged me a lot.
So yeah this wasn't the story for me. I hated Claire. She doesn't trust Jude, she lies to him, and yet she is all cutesy over the top romantic with him. It is lots of passages like I love you more - no, I love you more! - no, I love you more! kind of thing. Not my thing. Way too cutesy for my tastes. He was a ladies man, slept around and never committed to anyone until Claire. Why her? Who knows. But he instantly changed his ways when he saw her. Really I didn't mind that so much, but Claire ruined the story. Not that I loved it regardless, but she sure didn't help. Alright I am done ranting now.
So this story did not really work for me. It was way too long, way too repetitive, way too cutsy romantic and the girl got to be incredibly annoying by the end. It was not for me. Some spoilers ahead.
So first up let's talk about Claire. She is a dancer and works at a Burlesque club. Cool. No problem. That was huge when I was in college and no one would have batted an eyelash if you told them this. Yet Claire feels she has to hide it from everyone cause she doesn't want them to think she is one of those terrible strippers! I mean she doesn't strip naked!! It is a respectable business unlike being a stripper. Or so says the characters in the book. So you know. This is great. Really she is kind of judgmental about other girls. All the slut comments were not cool! Like "You think I'm gonna sleep with some guy I just met? I'm not a slut" Ugh. Seriously? Why? Why do this? Why make these super judgmental characters? I don't like that, especially when it is seen as normal and okay.
I don't really know why she has this big hang up about how Jude will hate her if she tells him what she does. I didn't get it. Why not just tell him? The story goes on and on and on about how she can't tell him, he will hate her, she just needs a little more money and then she will stop and he will never find out. Yeah, that is a great plan. Cause a) those plans always work and b) if you can't tell the love of your life who you actually are are you guys really that in love? So lying to him all the time is better than just telling him and seeing what happens? I know she had some bs reason she HAD to keep doing it, she just needs a little more money, but I wasn't buying it. The writing didn't make me believe she had a real issue with being stable herself so she doesn't depend on anyone. I know it told me she had issues because of her mom, but I didn't believe it. It wasn't really shown to me so...it didn't work. It just made me keep yelling at her to just tell Jude already!! It is not that big of a deal!! If he hates you for it then you guys obviously aren't meant to be together like you think. The whole last part of the book seemed to just be Claire worried about telling Jude/Jude finding out she dances burlesque and not just choreographs the dance routines. It got to the point where I was just like please let him find out so Claire can stop her poor me I need to tell him but I can't routine.
Oh, one other thing about Claire, I hate hate hate that at the beginning she is all I will call you Hey Jude. Like the song. Cause your name is Jude. Then she would all be "See you later, Hey Jude" or something which no. Just no. If you wanted to use Hey Jude as some stupid nickname fine, but at least make it work. Simply switching around the above - "Hey Jude, see you later!" would work. Not with the Hey Jude at the end so it just makes me cringe when I read it. Every time. It would be easy to make it work, but it is like the author didn't want to or something. Maybe it is just me, but it bugged me a lot.
So yeah this wasn't the story for me. I hated Claire. She doesn't trust Jude, she lies to him, and yet she is all cutesy over the top romantic with him. It is lots of passages like I love you more - no, I love you more! - no, I love you more! kind of thing. Not my thing. Way too cutesy for my tastes. He was a ladies man, slept around and never committed to anyone until Claire. Why her? Who knows. But he instantly changed his ways when he saw her. Really I didn't mind that so much, but Claire ruined the story. Not that I loved it regardless, but she sure didn't help. Alright I am done ranting now.
September 17, 2014
1.5 Stars!
First of all I have to say that I’m a sucker for hockey players and when I heard about this book I was really excited, but after reading 50 % all went downhill for me.
I had a hard time connecting with all this “insta-everything” between Claire and Jude.
After Jude and Claire hook up things went unbelievable slow and so boring not to mention that they acted and talked like they were 12.
And all of the:
"You make me so shy and giggly"
"You hang up."
"No, you hang up.
"No, you..."
“I miss you.” “No, I miss you more.”
"I love you"
"I love you more"
"No I love you more"
Made me want to scream.
ugh
The sweetness was too much. Don’t get me wrong, I love to read sweet love stories but this one was past that point for me.
First of all I have to say that I’m a sucker for hockey players and when I heard about this book I was really excited, but after reading 50 % all went downhill for me.
I had a hard time connecting with all this “insta-everything” between Claire and Jude.
After Jude and Claire hook up things went unbelievable slow and so boring not to mention that they acted and talked like they were 12.
And all of the:
"You make me so shy and giggly"
"You hang up."
"No, you hang up.
"No, you..."
“I miss you.” “No, I miss you more.”
"I love you"
"I love you more"
"No I love you more"
Made me want to scream.
ugh
The sweetness was too much. Don’t get me wrong, I love to read sweet love stories but this one was past that point for me.
October 14, 2016
I almost went with 3 stars, because the secret Claire kept from Jude just kept going and going and going, until I was tired of hearing about it.
Enjoyable narration - 4 stars
Mostly enjoyable story - 3 stars
Enjoyable narration - 4 stars
Mostly enjoyable story - 3 stars
June 26, 2014
Review to come soon!
just know that I love HEY JUDE. He is my #2 man written by Ms. Aleo. I love my Hey Jude BIG TIME. Claire kicks some serious ass too.
just know that I love HEY JUDE. He is my #2 man written by Ms. Aleo. I love my Hey Jude BIG TIME. Claire kicks some serious ass too.
May 1, 2015
3.5~4 Stars
This book has several of my book no-no's and still I was drawn in after the first 20%, and ended the book with a smile on my face and a happy heart.
This book has several of my book no-no's and still I was drawn in after the first 20%, and ended the book with a smile on my face and a happy heart.
July 24, 2018
Really liked this book !!! Discovered this author and honestly I love her writing, the development of the story , the various characters and all their feelings and personality .
Great job
Great job
January 10, 2016
More like bored by their love, just not for me. I tried.
dnf-abandonados
September 9, 2014DNF (23%)
Mis problemas:
1.La vida es demasiado corta para perder mi tiempo en un libro malo que además es largo. Siempre he tenido ese problema con esta autora: sus libros son demasiado largos. Es una autora indie, así que sus libros carecen de mucha edición y recorte de páginas innecesarias. Si te gusta el libro pues puede que no tengas problema, pero si no te gusta, es un problema ENORME. En un libro normal yo habría llegado cerca al 50%, pero aquí sólo alcancé un 23%. Ni siquiera iba a molestarme en seguirlo porque lo que llevaba leído no me había gustado.
2. El protagonista. Jude dice cosas como estas:
POR QUÉ NO TE CALLAS?! ERES UN DESPERDICIO DE ESPACIO EN ESTE MUNDO.
SLUT-SHAMING!!! Lo peor es que el duerme con esta clase de chica todo el tiempo pero ellas son las malas y las perras y las ilusas que creen en todas sus mentiras.
Has hablado con ella una vez, imbécil. ¿De verdad? Si esto no es instalust-instalove no sé cómo más clasificarlo
HDP.
Puedo seguir y seguir con las joyas que salen de la boca de este chico, pero creo que es mejor dejarlo así. No sobra decir que el chico que se acuesta con todas las chicas (guapas, obvio) de la universidad termina completamente loco de amor después de acostarse dos veces con nuestra protagonista. Porque obvio ella no es fácil ni una zorra por dejarse meter mano luego de dos días de haberlo conocido *rolls eyes*
3.La protagonista. Claire, Claire. No me habías gustado en Breakaway pero tampoco te había odiado. Aquí no te odié, sencillamente sentí que eras una protagonista más del montón sin nada interesante.Demasiado estúpida e insípida para vivir.
4. So, estaba un poco aburrida con la lectura y decidí irme directamente al final. A lo mejor podía encontrar un incentivo. ENORME ERROR. Al final Jude sigue siendo un puto imbécil y Claire una estúpida sin remedio.
Así que #ThanksButNotThanks. Lo dejo porque no estoy de humor y tengo otro libro en la fila.
Mis problemas:
1.
2. El protagonista. Jude dice cosas como estas:
[...]I guess you could call me a ladies’ man, and I wear the label proudly. I’m not one of those guys to be tied down. What is the point? There are too many girls wanting me, and I know the numbers will triple once I go pro.
POR QUÉ NO TE CALLAS?! ERES UN DESPERDICIO DE ESPACIO EN ESTE MUNDO.
She must be the friend with the crabs. She’s taller than the redhead by a foot with blond hair, blue eyes, and big plump lips. She’s really skinny with a shirt that stops under a pair of fantastic tits and a skirt that is probably against the school code. She looks easy
SLUT-SHAMING!!! Lo peor es que el duerme con esta clase de chica todo el tiempo pero ellas son las malas y las perras y las ilusas que creen en todas sus mentiras.
I haven’t wanted someone as bad as I want Claire in a long time, and I can’t wait to get in her pants, but a part of me wants to get to know her too. She interests me, and maybe she’ll be the kind of girl to calm me down. Teach me a lesson about being with a woman. Make me a one-woman man.
Has hablado con ella una vez, imbécil. ¿De verdad? Si esto no es instalust-instalove no sé cómo más clasificarlo
I know Skylar; we have the same English class. She wanted to have sex with me, but I’m pretty sure that girl could kill me with her thighs. Since I like my girls a little squishy, Skylar is out of the question. She may be freaking gorgeous, but I want to have sex with a girl, not Zangief from Wreck-It Ralph.
HDP.
Puedo seguir y seguir con las joyas que salen de la boca de este chico, pero creo que es mejor dejarlo así. No sobra decir que el chico que se acuesta con todas las chicas (guapas, obvio) de la universidad termina completamente loco de amor después de acostarse dos veces con nuestra protagonista. Porque obvio ella no es fácil ni una zorra por dejarse meter mano luego de dos días de haberlo conocido *rolls eyes*
3.La protagonista. Claire, Claire. No me habías gustado en Breakaway pero tampoco te había odiado. Aquí no te odié, sencillamente sentí que eras una protagonista más del montón sin nada interesante.
4. So, estaba un poco aburrida con la lectura y decidí irme directamente al final. A lo mejor podía encontrar un incentivo. ENORME ERROR. Al final Jude sigue siendo un puto imbécil y Claire una estúpida sin remedio.
Así que #ThanksButNotThanks. Lo dejo porque no estoy de humor y tengo otro libro en la fila.
July 24, 2017
3.5 Hockey Stars
Decent book but not wowing....I need a wowing book...
Decent book but not wowing....I need a wowing book...
September 6, 2024
4.5 stars
BOARDED BY LOVE
● Jude (20) & Claire (19)
● hockey player / dance team
● both in college
● Claire has a secret she's kept from her uncle and Jude
● Claire’s uncle Phillip & his fiance, Reese (from ‘Breaking Away’) are getting married
● Jude’s dad causes all kinds of problems for their family
I enjoyed getting to see Claire flourish in her own book.
BELLEVUE BULLIES:
#1 Jude & Claire - Boarded By Love
#2 Jayden & Baylor -Clipped By Love
#3 Jace & Avery - Hooked By Love
#4 Ryan & Sofia- End Game
#5 Jude & Claire - Changing Lines
#6 Asher & Allison - Spiked By Love
#7 Evan & Callie - Saved By Love
#8 Benson & Cameron- Chosen By Love
BOARDED BY LOVE
● Jude (20) & Claire (19)
● hockey player / dance team
● both in college
● Claire has a secret she's kept from her uncle and Jude
● Claire’s uncle Phillip & his fiance, Reese (from ‘Breaking Away’) are getting married
● Jude’s dad causes all kinds of problems for their family
I enjoyed getting to see Claire flourish in her own book.
BELLEVUE BULLIES:
#1 Jude & Claire - Boarded By Love
#2 Jayden & Baylor -Clipped By Love
#3 Jace & Avery - Hooked By Love
#4 Ryan & Sofia- End Game
#5 Jude & Claire - Changing Lines
#6 Asher & Allison - Spiked By Love
#7 Evan & Callie - Saved By Love
#8 Benson & Cameron- Chosen By Love
Audiobook source: Audible
Narrator: Felicity Munroe & Joe Arden
Length: 16h 03m
December 24, 2014
3 confused-about-my-rating Stars
Short and to the point: This book dragged in the middle.
That's pretty much all I have to give you that is a legitimate, useful criticism. The rest is subjective stuff that are my issues.
For instance, this is a book about a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old. I hate books about teenagers. I knew it going in, but I loved Claire so much in Breaking Away, that I wasn't about to miss her story. Plus, any new happenings in the world of the Assassins, I need to know about.
Claire's internal thoughts and dialogue had words like "whack" and "superlike", which annoyed me, but I knew she couldn't have the personality of a 30 year old. So... even though I was rolling my eyes by the third, "those dances are whack", I couldn't really hold it against T.A. or Claire, she's just being a teen.
I really dislike it when I read a book and I don't feel like the characters really care about each other. I hate when authors sort of skim over chunks of time and relationship building and we are supposed to just take it on faith that they feel it...you know? Which is why this complaint might make you shake your head at me and think I'm impossible. But hear me out: Almost every interaction (conversation, text message, kiss & snuggle) was described. Every dance move Claire performed was explained to cement it in to our brains that she was the most amazing dancer/choreographer in the western world. Every thought Jude had about her lips, ass, limberness, hair, eyes, laugh and giggle (oh, god, the giggling)...Yep, we knew exactly where he stood on all of that. This is why it dragged. Not only did I feel bogged down with repetitive scenes, the big conflict and how it was going to come about (a goodie that got me in the feels when it finally went down), was clear to me at about 43% in but then it just kept dragging on and on.
Okay, now the good:
HEROES Toni Aleo knows how to give us book boyfriends. Tattooed, cocky, 100% devoted, loves his Mommy and on track to be a huge name in the NHL. Oh, and hung like a horse (can't leave that out!). That's Jude Sinclair. The only thing I don't like about Jude Sinclair: He's 20.
ASSASSINS We get to see Phillip, Erik, Shea...(yes, and we get to see their wives, too). And it's a total hoot to see Jude get Star-Struck by the big, sexy goons.
"All I can do is try to keep from freaking out because Shea Adler just sat right beside me. Giving him a sideways glance, I look away quickly before he catches me looking at him."
Cute, right?
"I just got threatened by Shea Adler.
That's so fucking cool."
Hilarious.
Even though I had to wait so long for the upset to come, it was totally gut-wrenching. I felt so bad for Jude and Claire and by the end, I had a stupid, dopey grin on my face. So, 3 stars might seem unfair, but I took DAYS to read this book. The slowness of the middle was a real issue for me. It's sweet, it's sexy and the ending is good, but it's slow.
Short and to the point: This book dragged in the middle.
That's pretty much all I have to give you that is a legitimate, useful criticism. The rest is subjective stuff that are my issues.
For instance, this is a book about a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old. I hate books about teenagers. I knew it going in, but I loved Claire so much in Breaking Away, that I wasn't about to miss her story. Plus, any new happenings in the world of the Assassins, I need to know about.
Claire's internal thoughts and dialogue had words like "whack" and "superlike", which annoyed me, but I knew she couldn't have the personality of a 30 year old. So... even though I was rolling my eyes by the third, "those dances are whack", I couldn't really hold it against T.A. or Claire, she's just being a teen.
I really dislike it when I read a book and I don't feel like the characters really care about each other. I hate when authors sort of skim over chunks of time and relationship building and we are supposed to just take it on faith that they feel it...you know? Which is why this complaint might make you shake your head at me and think I'm impossible. But hear me out: Almost every interaction (conversation, text message, kiss & snuggle) was described. Every dance move Claire performed was explained to cement it in to our brains that she was the most amazing dancer/choreographer in the western world. Every thought Jude had about her lips, ass, limberness, hair, eyes, laugh and giggle (oh, god, the giggling)...Yep, we knew exactly where he stood on all of that. This is why it dragged. Not only did I feel bogged down with repetitive scenes, the big conflict and how it was going to come about (a goodie that got me in the feels when it finally went down), was clear to me at about 43% in but then it just kept dragging on and on.
Okay, now the good:
HEROES Toni Aleo knows how to give us book boyfriends. Tattooed, cocky, 100% devoted, loves his Mommy and on track to be a huge name in the NHL. Oh, and hung like a horse (can't leave that out!). That's Jude Sinclair. The only thing I don't like about Jude Sinclair: He's 20.
ASSASSINS We get to see Phillip, Erik, Shea...(yes, and we get to see their wives, too). And it's a total hoot to see Jude get Star-Struck by the big, sexy goons.
"All I can do is try to keep from freaking out because Shea Adler just sat right beside me. Giving him a sideways glance, I look away quickly before he catches me looking at him."
Cute, right?
"I just got threatened by Shea Adler.
That's so fucking cool."
Hilarious.
Even though I had to wait so long for the upset to come, it was totally gut-wrenching. I felt so bad for Jude and Claire and by the end, I had a stupid, dopey grin on my face. So, 3 stars might seem unfair, but I took DAYS to read this book. The slowness of the middle was a real issue for me. It's sweet, it's sexy and the ending is good, but it's slow.
April 3, 2016
I just did not get why Jude wanted Claire. I thought I was going to love this book, but the insta-love and everything did not work for me. Claire who made all these promises...not to sleep around and to concentrate on school just has sex with Jude after knowing him for a day or two. She went from not wanting to sleep with anyone, to having sex with the hero in no time. I think Claire Anderson auditioned for a school dance group and next thing "Hey Jude" and Claire are going back to her dorm and having sex. There was nothing special or memorable FOR ME with this couple.
This may work for you, but it did not work for me.
This may work for you, but it did not work for me.
February 11, 2016
3.5 am i supossed to know who phillip is? stars
There were too many issues with this book but mostly is the fact that it seems this is a spin off of another book but it is never mention that, im just supposed to know who phillip and reese are and they are all over the story, there are even some chapters from Phillips POV.
There were too many issues with this book but mostly is the fact that it seems this is a spin off of another book but it is never mention that, im just supposed to know who phillip and reese are and they are all over the story, there are even some chapters from Phillips POV.
June 11, 2015
Woah.
This was so perfect, even though some mightn't agree because it was too perfect, but still, I fell way too hard and way too fast for this book, just like these two.
I became addicted. Completely addicted.
“I love making dances and I love the sexiness of burlesque,” I admit and she smiles. “But I'm worried they won't see it that way, they'll think it's stripping or something degrading.”
College girl Claire majors in business but her true talents and dreams lie in dancing. Particularly burlesque. As it is a very provocative form of dancing, which she loves about it, it brings her some shame given most people form the idea of it being close to stripping. However, comparing, it is more of a respectable business and we see that Claire shines at it in her sexy, confident and extremely talented self. But even more so, she gets the chance to make the money she needs for her future, where she can prepare for the worst- when the time might come that the people she loves the most won't be there for her.
“I need the money, the security, because I might not have the blanket of support and love I have now forever. It could all end, and then I'll find myself at rock bottom, a strung-out stripper like my mother.
I can't let that happen.
I won't let that happen.”
Claire Anderson has quite a childhood story. Living in a caravan with her drugged-up stripper of a mother, she was always a ninth thought. She would fight off the men that came around for her mother, but Claire eventually gives in, craving the attention that is denied from her. When her mother is found in a ditch, Claire is set to stay with her uncle. After years of rebelling and struggle, we see her standing on her own two feet with the uncle and aunt who care for her unconditionally. She's come to the terms with her past for the most part, but for her, money is the only security she has to never let herself fall into a place like her mother was.
“I knew you were a game changer, Claire Anderson.”
Jude Sinclair. Typical manwhore with tattoos who is captain of the hockey team. Yup, yup and yup. He's all about hockey and the ladies, but also his family. He has brothers who all have a promising future like him getting into the NHL, a loving family for the most part, except for a douche of a father who rarely has shown them much support or love and is often away on business. Although Jude has disrespected a lot of girls, with Claire, he becomes a one-woman kind of guy.
When he first sees her, it's definitely something at first something. Yes the attraction, and even though he's always been up for the sex, Jude knows it's going to be more with Claire before anything ever happens.
“This is real, man, and it's scary as fuck, but I can't see myself without her.”
Oh. My. God. I was hooked on this.
I don't even know where to start.
“Closing my eyes, I laugh so hard that tears sting my eyes, and I know that I've fallen a little bit more for Jude motherfucking Sinclair.”
I guess, for me, I found a lot of aspects in this books refreshing- subtle but still made a difference to me.
“I love you so much, so hard, and it has been so fast that I feel it everywhere.”
“I'm pretty sure he doesn't want his girlfriend onstage.”
GAH okay, so Claire. Claire Anderson. Well for a person who had a crap childhood, is she broken? Hmm I would say not at all because she doesn't go on about it, not in the typical way.
It's 3 years later and she mentions having gone through therapy, briefly, like in one sentence and we get a glimpse into how it all happened, her struggle and her recovery.
And I like it because it was a romance story, not a story about two seriously broken people who helped save each other or anything even though what she went through was awful. But other than that, the only thing that really affects her is her need for the money. The illusion that she has to be independent is ultimately what tears her apart.
“You're trouble, Hey Jude.”
What else? Damn, she was confident, spunky, sexy and so cool! She was a really epic character, I felt she was so genuine with her cute but fiery personality. I really, seriously loved her! And then her relationship with Phillip and Reese, ohmygod. Love Love Love. So amazing. The fact that they are actually a pretty young couple themselves just added a whole other element as I felt that they were so cute with each other, protective like family but sweet as friends. It was all perfect, I really just fell for it all.
“He looks like the kind of guy who likes a challenge, so maybe, I'll give him one.”
And with Jude. She handles him so well. She knew to give him a chase for the hell of it, and then they fall so hard so fast and they try and slow it down but they just grow to love each other and it's so crazy how in love they are!
Since they get together so early in the book, we see so much of them being so damn perfect and cute and that was different because usually that might turn me off with it starting so early or it might seem kind of shallow but the way the author put this together, I could feel everything that they were going through and it seemed really right. The order of events was different too which was fun to read and how it all played out.
I really just loved how in love they were.
“I'm just so in love with you that the thought of losing you seriously fucks with me.”
Like, they were so in love. Ohmygod.
“I love Jude Sinclair with a fierceness that cannot be touched.
Yes, it's insane that it's only been two weeks, but this is different. We're different. We're special and I can't get enough of him.”
Okay so that quote right there, ^^^, YES TWO WEEKS but a.k.a. at 50% of the book, so a lot happens and really and truly, for me, it didn't feel rushed. Yes, might seem crazy to you, but during those two weeks... can't explain it. They just knew. Just. Knew.
“I don't want the money. I want to see Jude, and I want him to wrap his arms around me and tell me he loves me. That's my security, that's my haven...That's what I need.”
It changes them both as Claire realises that family will always be there for you and that the money isn't what she really needs.
For Jude, NOT that he turns all mushy...but he sort of does. In a seriously hot, but sweet way. He doesn't go all alpha either, it's more real than that but he is really open about his feelings and I suppose being with one girl alone really changes a lot about the way he thinks.
(SO MUCH I WANNA SAY. I apologize for this review being all over the place.)
“I'm drunk with love for this girl, and to be honest, I don't ever want to sober up.”
The writing was really great too. You know yourself when the writing just isn't working and it sucks, so I enjoyed this book immensely.
Perfect. They were perfect! It was bloody perfect.
“You're wrong; I am proud of you no matter what,” he promises.”
I'm actually going to go so far as to say that this book kind of moved me by the sweetness of these guys, I AM SO MUSHY RIGHT NOW UGH. Like, ohmygod help.
“They always say that love is a fantasy, but with this girl, it's a reality.”
and ohmygod PHILLIP. Yes we get a bit of the uncle's POV, who is, may I remind you, not much older than Claire herself. Like just about old enough to be her uncle, but GAH as well as being so darn good with Reese, I found him so hilarious and awesome in his protectiveness over Claire with Jude. It was too good. Too. Good.
“Standing in the face-off circle with the smug little bastard who has already scored on us tonight, I glare, waiting for the puck to drop.”
Uncle Phillip, yours truly ^^
So yeah, at this stage I'm enjoying this review too much and I don't want to end it because then they're over for me and yeah...Damn.
Jude and Claire will be staying with me for a long while <3
This was so perfect, even though some mightn't agree because it was too perfect, but still, I fell way too hard and way too fast for this book, just like these two.
I became addicted. Completely addicted.
“I love making dances and I love the sexiness of burlesque,” I admit and she smiles. “But I'm worried they won't see it that way, they'll think it's stripping or something degrading.”
College girl Claire majors in business but her true talents and dreams lie in dancing. Particularly burlesque. As it is a very provocative form of dancing, which she loves about it, it brings her some shame given most people form the idea of it being close to stripping. However, comparing, it is more of a respectable business and we see that Claire shines at it in her sexy, confident and extremely talented self. But even more so, she gets the chance to make the money she needs for her future, where she can prepare for the worst- when the time might come that the people she loves the most won't be there for her.
“I need the money, the security, because I might not have the blanket of support and love I have now forever. It could all end, and then I'll find myself at rock bottom, a strung-out stripper like my mother.
I can't let that happen.
I won't let that happen.”
Claire Anderson has quite a childhood story. Living in a caravan with her drugged-up stripper of a mother, she was always a ninth thought. She would fight off the men that came around for her mother, but Claire eventually gives in, craving the attention that is denied from her. When her mother is found in a ditch, Claire is set to stay with her uncle. After years of rebelling and struggle, we see her standing on her own two feet with the uncle and aunt who care for her unconditionally. She's come to the terms with her past for the most part, but for her, money is the only security she has to never let herself fall into a place like her mother was.
“I knew you were a game changer, Claire Anderson.”
Jude Sinclair. Typical manwhore with tattoos who is captain of the hockey team. Yup, yup and yup. He's all about hockey and the ladies, but also his family. He has brothers who all have a promising future like him getting into the NHL, a loving family for the most part, except for a douche of a father who rarely has shown them much support or love and is often away on business. Although Jude has disrespected a lot of girls, with Claire, he becomes a one-woman kind of guy.
When he first sees her, it's definitely something at first something. Yes the attraction, and even though he's always been up for the sex, Jude knows it's going to be more with Claire before anything ever happens.
“This is real, man, and it's scary as fuck, but I can't see myself without her.”
Oh. My. God. I was hooked on this.
I don't even know where to start.
“Closing my eyes, I laugh so hard that tears sting my eyes, and I know that I've fallen a little bit more for Jude motherfucking Sinclair.”
I guess, for me, I found a lot of aspects in this books refreshing- subtle but still made a difference to me.
“I love you so much, so hard, and it has been so fast that I feel it everywhere.”
“I'm pretty sure he doesn't want his girlfriend onstage.”
GAH okay, so Claire. Claire Anderson. Well for a person who had a crap childhood, is she broken? Hmm I would say not at all because she doesn't go on about it, not in the typical way.
It's 3 years later and she mentions having gone through therapy, briefly, like in one sentence and we get a glimpse into how it all happened, her struggle and her recovery.
And I like it because it was a romance story, not a story about two seriously broken people who helped save each other or anything even though what she went through was awful. But other than that, the only thing that really affects her is her need for the money. The illusion that she has to be independent is ultimately what tears her apart.
“You're trouble, Hey Jude.”
What else? Damn, she was confident, spunky, sexy and so cool! She was a really epic character, I felt she was so genuine with her cute but fiery personality. I really, seriously loved her! And then her relationship with Phillip and Reese, ohmygod. Love Love Love. So amazing. The fact that they are actually a pretty young couple themselves just added a whole other element as I felt that they were so cute with each other, protective like family but sweet as friends. It was all perfect, I really just fell for it all.
“He looks like the kind of guy who likes a challenge, so maybe, I'll give him one.”
And with Jude. She handles him so well. She knew to give him a chase for the hell of it, and then they fall so hard so fast and they try and slow it down but they just grow to love each other and it's so crazy how in love they are!
Since they get together so early in the book, we see so much of them being so damn perfect and cute and that was different because usually that might turn me off with it starting so early or it might seem kind of shallow but the way the author put this together, I could feel everything that they were going through and it seemed really right. The order of events was different too which was fun to read and how it all played out.
I really just loved how in love they were.
“I'm just so in love with you that the thought of losing you seriously fucks with me.”
Like, they were so in love. Ohmygod.
“I love Jude Sinclair with a fierceness that cannot be touched.
Yes, it's insane that it's only been two weeks, but this is different. We're different. We're special and I can't get enough of him.”
Okay so that quote right there, ^^^, YES TWO WEEKS but a.k.a. at 50% of the book, so a lot happens and really and truly, for me, it didn't feel rushed. Yes, might seem crazy to you, but during those two weeks... can't explain it. They just knew. Just. Knew.
“I don't want the money. I want to see Jude, and I want him to wrap his arms around me and tell me he loves me. That's my security, that's my haven...That's what I need.”
It changes them both as Claire realises that family will always be there for you and that the money isn't what she really needs.
For Jude, NOT that he turns all mushy...but he sort of does. In a seriously hot, but sweet way. He doesn't go all alpha either, it's more real than that but he is really open about his feelings and I suppose being with one girl alone really changes a lot about the way he thinks.
(SO MUCH I WANNA SAY. I apologize for this review being all over the place.)
“I'm drunk with love for this girl, and to be honest, I don't ever want to sober up.”
The writing was really great too. You know yourself when the writing just isn't working and it sucks, so I enjoyed this book immensely.
Perfect. They were perfect! It was bloody perfect.
“You're wrong; I am proud of you no matter what,” he promises.”
I'm actually going to go so far as to say that this book kind of moved me by the sweetness of these guys, I AM SO MUSHY RIGHT NOW UGH. Like, ohmygod help.
“They always say that love is a fantasy, but with this girl, it's a reality.”
and ohmygod PHILLIP. Yes we get a bit of the uncle's POV, who is, may I remind you, not much older than Claire herself. Like just about old enough to be her uncle, but GAH as well as being so darn good with Reese, I found him so hilarious and awesome in his protectiveness over Claire with Jude. It was too good. Too. Good.
“Standing in the face-off circle with the smug little bastard who has already scored on us tonight, I glare, waiting for the puck to drop.”
Uncle Phillip, yours truly ^^
So yeah, at this stage I'm enjoying this review too much and I don't want to end it because then they're over for me and yeah...Damn.
Jude and Claire will be staying with me for a long while <3
September 6, 2014
5 He Shoots He Scores Stars!
Review by Natasha Gentile
Ok, so anyone who knows me knows that my number one sport of all time is Hockey! I mean I’m Canadian eh, it’s our sport, we really have nothing else. I just love, love, love the game, and no one, and I mean no one knows more about writing the game than Toni. I mean it’s like she has Gretzky’s mind. Gretzky, he’s the man. I have read every hockey book that Toni has put out, and this one didn't disappoint. Now let's meet the first star.
Jude Sinclair is the number one hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and a ladies' man. Hockey’s in his blood and well he’s really really good at it.
I love the feeling I get when I step onto the ice. The way the cool air fills my lungs, making me breathless. The smell of the ice tickling my senses before my heart begins to race from the adrenaline of dominating the ice. It has always been like that, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved it. I love everything about it. It is like a drug, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
This right here, is why she is the queen of ice skates. So basically he has everything going for him. He is the all star of the team, drafts are coming up and scouts are looking at him, he’s really close to his family, oh and it totally helps that he is super hot!!!
He has dark brown hair that’s shaved upon the sides of his head but is long on top, falling into his eyes. It’s fuller than a Mohawk, and I have to admit, it's super hot, His eyes are a dark green, his lips are thin and light red while his face is dusted with dark hair along his jawline. His shoulders are wide and his arms are thick; I could tell that even with him wearing a pullover, which meant this guy is toned. He’s taller than me, and when he pins me with those green eyes, I fell like he’s looking inside my should. He has tattoos too, and that alone is a panty-dropper. I can’t see the way I want since he’s covered up, but two are peeling out of the top of his pullover, and when he pulls his sweatshirt up to his elbows in a carefree way, I notice that his forearms are covered.
Can someone please show me where the sign up sheet is for introductions on learning to skate and play hockey? I’m sure I can learn, I mean how hard can it be, and worse case I fall on my butt and he comes over and assists me up!
So basically he’s exactly where he wants to be, except his eyes land on a girl holding pink papers. A girl that will be his game changer.
I catch a glimpse of her face, and I am completely stunned. Big blue eyes, framed with big black lashes. She wears thick black frames, but I figure it is for style and not for sight purposes. Her skin is silky looking, her lips a delectable red that matches her fire engine red hair, with a little nose that needs to be kissed. Hell, all of her needs to be kissed. Suddenly I’m not all that tired or even worried about my homework; my back doesn't even ache.
Hey Jude, you're going to need a lot more your slap shots to get past her goalie so she can let you in. You see Claire; she’s had a rough up bringing, her mother, not that nice of a person, and then she got pushed into being raised by her uncle, who plays for the NHL. So she is guarded, she doesn't let anyone in. She has a path that she wants to go down and nowhere is there a time out for love. Her goal is to chorography for Justin Timberlake, which is funny since it is also my goal, I want to do the horizontal mambo with him! But then what happens when the star of the game starts pursuing you, obviously you let him, I mean come on, he plays hockey! *swoon*
I’m too lost in his lips and the feel of his chest under my hands to care. He’s so hard and thick, oh sweet Lord, his body is a wonderland that I want to discover. When his fingers trail up my neck, that’s when something snaps inside me, reminding me that I shouldn't be doing this. I pull away but he follows me, his teeth nibbling on my bottom lip before his lips assault me once more. You know, everyone always talks about sparks and fireworks when they kiss a guy- I hadn’t ever felt that before, but I do now. But sparks and fireworks really don't do the way he kisses justice. It’s more like a bomb, a nuclear one, because when I pull back, I’m actually dizzy..
So she decides she is going to give him the chance to prove himself. She can do this, I mean he’s really trying to prove himself and when they finally have sex..
“Holy huge penis, Batman.”
Ok so just for the record that we are taking score, he plays hockey, check, he’s going to be drafted into the NHL and have an amazing career, check, he’s hot, check, he’s got a huge penis, check, he loves his mom, check. That’s right ladies, penis came before mother. And he’s fallen in love with Claire, check. They are going to live happily ever after,..hmmmm not so much of a check there. You see it can’t be just a shut out game. That would be no fun for anyone.
You see Claire has a secret, a secret that could be the game changer.
Oh, by the way, my name is Claire Anderson and I’m a nineteen-year-old sophomore at the University of Bellevue here in Tennessee. By night though, onstage and in this club my name is Diamond, and I’m the best burlesque dancer at Ms. Prissy’s Gentlemen’s Club.
Will she be able to keep this secret and will he be ok when he finds out? No one knows, unless you're boarded..by love..
Review by Natasha Gentile
Ok, so anyone who knows me knows that my number one sport of all time is Hockey! I mean I’m Canadian eh, it’s our sport, we really have nothing else. I just love, love, love the game, and no one, and I mean no one knows more about writing the game than Toni. I mean it’s like she has Gretzky’s mind. Gretzky, he’s the man. I have read every hockey book that Toni has put out, and this one didn't disappoint. Now let's meet the first star.
Jude Sinclair is the number one hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and a ladies' man. Hockey’s in his blood and well he’s really really good at it.
I love the feeling I get when I step onto the ice. The way the cool air fills my lungs, making me breathless. The smell of the ice tickling my senses before my heart begins to race from the adrenaline of dominating the ice. It has always been like that, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved it. I love everything about it. It is like a drug, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
This right here, is why she is the queen of ice skates. So basically he has everything going for him. He is the all star of the team, drafts are coming up and scouts are looking at him, he’s really close to his family, oh and it totally helps that he is super hot!!!
He has dark brown hair that’s shaved upon the sides of his head but is long on top, falling into his eyes. It’s fuller than a Mohawk, and I have to admit, it's super hot, His eyes are a dark green, his lips are thin and light red while his face is dusted with dark hair along his jawline. His shoulders are wide and his arms are thick; I could tell that even with him wearing a pullover, which meant this guy is toned. He’s taller than me, and when he pins me with those green eyes, I fell like he’s looking inside my should. He has tattoos too, and that alone is a panty-dropper. I can’t see the way I want since he’s covered up, but two are peeling out of the top of his pullover, and when he pulls his sweatshirt up to his elbows in a carefree way, I notice that his forearms are covered.
Can someone please show me where the sign up sheet is for introductions on learning to skate and play hockey? I’m sure I can learn, I mean how hard can it be, and worse case I fall on my butt and he comes over and assists me up!
So basically he’s exactly where he wants to be, except his eyes land on a girl holding pink papers. A girl that will be his game changer.
I catch a glimpse of her face, and I am completely stunned. Big blue eyes, framed with big black lashes. She wears thick black frames, but I figure it is for style and not for sight purposes. Her skin is silky looking, her lips a delectable red that matches her fire engine red hair, with a little nose that needs to be kissed. Hell, all of her needs to be kissed. Suddenly I’m not all that tired or even worried about my homework; my back doesn't even ache.
Hey Jude, you're going to need a lot more your slap shots to get past her goalie so she can let you in. You see Claire; she’s had a rough up bringing, her mother, not that nice of a person, and then she got pushed into being raised by her uncle, who plays for the NHL. So she is guarded, she doesn't let anyone in. She has a path that she wants to go down and nowhere is there a time out for love. Her goal is to chorography for Justin Timberlake, which is funny since it is also my goal, I want to do the horizontal mambo with him! But then what happens when the star of the game starts pursuing you, obviously you let him, I mean come on, he plays hockey! *swoon*
I’m too lost in his lips and the feel of his chest under my hands to care. He’s so hard and thick, oh sweet Lord, his body is a wonderland that I want to discover. When his fingers trail up my neck, that’s when something snaps inside me, reminding me that I shouldn't be doing this. I pull away but he follows me, his teeth nibbling on my bottom lip before his lips assault me once more. You know, everyone always talks about sparks and fireworks when they kiss a guy- I hadn’t ever felt that before, but I do now. But sparks and fireworks really don't do the way he kisses justice. It’s more like a bomb, a nuclear one, because when I pull back, I’m actually dizzy..
So she decides she is going to give him the chance to prove himself. She can do this, I mean he’s really trying to prove himself and when they finally have sex..
“Holy huge penis, Batman.”
Ok so just for the record that we are taking score, he plays hockey, check, he’s going to be drafted into the NHL and have an amazing career, check, he’s hot, check, he’s got a huge penis, check, he loves his mom, check. That’s right ladies, penis came before mother. And he’s fallen in love with Claire, check. They are going to live happily ever after,..hmmmm not so much of a check there. You see it can’t be just a shut out game. That would be no fun for anyone.
You see Claire has a secret, a secret that could be the game changer.
Oh, by the way, my name is Claire Anderson and I’m a nineteen-year-old sophomore at the University of Bellevue here in Tennessee. By night though, onstage and in this club my name is Diamond, and I’m the best burlesque dancer at Ms. Prissy’s Gentlemen’s Club.
Will she be able to keep this secret and will he be ok when he finds out? No one knows, unless you're boarded..by love..
September 7, 2014
5 He Shoots He Scores Stars!
Review by Natasha Gentile
Ok, so anyone who knows me knows that my number one sport of all time is Hockey! I mean I’m Canadian eh, it’s our sport, we really have nothing else. I just love, love, love the game, and no one, and I mean no one knows more about writing the game than Toni. I mean it’s like she has Gretzky’s mind. Gretzky, he’s the man. I have read every hockey book that Toni has put out, and this one didn't disappoint. Now let's meet the first star.
Jude Sinclair is the number one hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and a ladies' man. Hockey’s in his blood and well he’s really really good at it.
I love the feeling I get when I step onto the ice. The way the cool air fills my lungs, making me breathless. The smell of the ice tickling my senses before my heart begins to race from the adrenaline of dominating the ice. It has always been like that, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved it. I love everything about it. It is like a drug, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
This right here, is why she is the queen of ice skates. So basically he has everything going for him. He is the all star of the team, drafts are coming up and scouts are looking at him, he’s really close to his family, oh and it totally helps that he is super hot!!!
He has dark brown hair that’s shaved upon the sides of his head but is long on top, falling into his eyes. It’s fuller than a Mohawk, and I have to admit, it's super hot, His eyes are a dark green, his lips are thin and light red while his face is dusted with dark hair along his jawline. His shoulders are wide and his arms are thick; I could tell that even with him wearing a pullover, which meant this guy is toned. He’s taller than me, and when he pins me with those green eyes, I fell like he’s looking inside my should. He has tattoos too, and that alone is a panty-dropper. I can’t see the way I want since he’s covered up, but two are peeling out of the top of his pullover, and when he pulls his sweatshirt up to his elbows in a carefree way, I notice that his forearms are covered.
Can someone please show me where the sign up sheet is for introductions on learning to skate and play hockey? I’m sure I can learn, I mean how hard can it be, and worse case I fall on my butt and he comes over and assists me up!
So basically he’s exactly where he wants to be, except his eyes land on a girl holding pink papers. A girl that will be his game changer.
I catch a glimpse of her face, and I am completely stunned. Big blue eyes, framed with big black lashes. She wears thick black frames, but I figure it is for style and not for sight purposes. Her skin is silky looking, her lips a delectable red that matches her fire engine red hair, with a little nose that needs to be kissed. Hell, all of her needs to be kissed. Suddenly I’m not all that tired or even worried about my homework; my back doesn't even ache.
Hey Jude, you're going to need a lot more your slap shots to get past her goalie so she can let you in. You see Claire; she’s had a rough up bringing, her mother, not that nice of a person, and then she got pushed into being raised by her uncle, who plays for the NHL. So she is guarded, she doesn't let anyone in. She has a path that she wants to go down and nowhere is there a time out for love. Her goal is to chorography for Justin Timberlake, which is funny since it is also my goal, I want to do the horizontal mambo with him! But then what happens when the star of the game starts pursuing you, obviously you let him, I mean come on, he plays hockey! *swoon*
I’m too lost in his lips and the feel of his chest under my hands to care. He’s so hard and thick, oh sweet Lord, his body is a wonderland that I want to discover. When his fingers trail up my neck, that’s when something snaps inside me, reminding me that I shouldn't be doing this. I pull away but he follows me, his teeth nibbling on my bottom lip before his lips assault me once more. You know, everyone always talks about sparks and fireworks when they kiss a guy- I hadn’t ever felt that before, but I do now. But sparks and fireworks really don't do the way he kisses justice. It’s more like a bomb, a nuclear one, because when I pull back, I’m actually dizzy..
So she decides she is going to give him the chance to prove himself. She can do this, I mean he’s really trying to prove himself and when they finally have sex..
“Holy huge penis, Batman.”
Ok so just for the record that we are taking score, he plays hockey, check, he’s going to be drafted into the NHL and have an amazing career, check, he’s hot, check, he’s got a huge penis, check, he loves his mom, check. That’s right ladies, penis came before mother. And he’s fallen in love with Claire, check. They are going to live happily ever after,..hmmmm not so much of a check there. You see it can’t be just a shut out game. That would be no fun for anyone.
You see Claire has a secret, a secret that could be the game changer.
Oh, by the way, my name is Claire Anderson and I’m a nineteen-year-old sophomore at the University of Bellevue here in Tennessee. By night though, onstage and in this club my name is Diamond, and I’m the best burlesque dancer at Ms. Prissy’s Gentlemen’s Club.
Will she be able to keep this secret and will he be ok when he finds out? No one knows, unless you're boarded..by love..
Review by Natasha Gentile
Ok, so anyone who knows me knows that my number one sport of all time is Hockey! I mean I’m Canadian eh, it’s our sport, we really have nothing else. I just love, love, love the game, and no one, and I mean no one knows more about writing the game than Toni. I mean it’s like she has Gretzky’s mind. Gretzky, he’s the man. I have read every hockey book that Toni has put out, and this one didn't disappoint. Now let's meet the first star.
Jude Sinclair is the number one hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and a ladies' man. Hockey’s in his blood and well he’s really really good at it.
I love the feeling I get when I step onto the ice. The way the cool air fills my lungs, making me breathless. The smell of the ice tickling my senses before my heart begins to race from the adrenaline of dominating the ice. It has always been like that, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved it. I love everything about it. It is like a drug, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
This right here, is why she is the queen of ice skates. So basically he has everything going for him. He is the all star of the team, drafts are coming up and scouts are looking at him, he’s really close to his family, oh and it totally helps that he is super hot!!!
He has dark brown hair that’s shaved upon the sides of his head but is long on top, falling into his eyes. It’s fuller than a Mohawk, and I have to admit, it's super hot, His eyes are a dark green, his lips are thin and light red while his face is dusted with dark hair along his jawline. His shoulders are wide and his arms are thick; I could tell that even with him wearing a pullover, which meant this guy is toned. He’s taller than me, and when he pins me with those green eyes, I fell like he’s looking inside my should. He has tattoos too, and that alone is a panty-dropper. I can’t see the way I want since he’s covered up, but two are peeling out of the top of his pullover, and when he pulls his sweatshirt up to his elbows in a carefree way, I notice that his forearms are covered.
Can someone please show me where the sign up sheet is for introductions on learning to skate and play hockey? I’m sure I can learn, I mean how hard can it be, and worse case I fall on my butt and he comes over and assists me up!
So basically he’s exactly where he wants to be, except his eyes land on a girl holding pink papers. A girl that will be his game changer.
I catch a glimpse of her face, and I am completely stunned. Big blue eyes, framed with big black lashes. She wears thick black frames, but I figure it is for style and not for sight purposes. Her skin is silky looking, her lips a delectable red that matches her fire engine red hair, with a little nose that needs to be kissed. Hell, all of her needs to be kissed. Suddenly I’m not all that tired or even worried about my homework; my back doesn't even ache.
Hey Jude, you're going to need a lot more your slap shots to get past her goalie so she can let you in. You see Claire; she’s had a rough up bringing, her mother, not that nice of a person, and then she got pushed into being raised by her uncle, who plays for the NHL. So she is guarded, she doesn't let anyone in. She has a path that she wants to go down and nowhere is there a time out for love. Her goal is to chorography for Justin Timberlake, which is funny since it is also my goal, I want to do the horizontal mambo with him! But then what happens when the star of the game starts pursuing you, obviously you let him, I mean come on, he plays hockey! *swoon*
I’m too lost in his lips and the feel of his chest under my hands to care. He’s so hard and thick, oh sweet Lord, his body is a wonderland that I want to discover. When his fingers trail up my neck, that’s when something snaps inside me, reminding me that I shouldn't be doing this. I pull away but he follows me, his teeth nibbling on my bottom lip before his lips assault me once more. You know, everyone always talks about sparks and fireworks when they kiss a guy- I hadn’t ever felt that before, but I do now. But sparks and fireworks really don't do the way he kisses justice. It’s more like a bomb, a nuclear one, because when I pull back, I’m actually dizzy..
So she decides she is going to give him the chance to prove himself. She can do this, I mean he’s really trying to prove himself and when they finally have sex..
“Holy huge penis, Batman.”
Ok so just for the record that we are taking score, he plays hockey, check, he’s going to be drafted into the NHL and have an amazing career, check, he’s hot, check, he’s got a huge penis, check, he loves his mom, check. That’s right ladies, penis came before mother. And he’s fallen in love with Claire, check. They are going to live happily ever after,..hmmmm not so much of a check there. You see it can’t be just a shut out game. That would be no fun for anyone.
You see Claire has a secret, a secret that could be the game changer.
Oh, by the way, my name is Claire Anderson and I’m a nineteen-year-old sophomore at the University of Bellevue here in Tennessee. By night though, onstage and in this club my name is Diamond, and I’m the best burlesque dancer at Ms. Prissy’s Gentlemen’s Club.
Will she be able to keep this secret and will he be ok when he finds out? No one knows, unless you're boarded..by love..
September 8, 2014
Safe. Stable. Steady.
That’s the exact life Claire Anderson is working towards as she dances and choreographs performances at Ms. Prissy’s Gentlemen’s Club. For more years than she can count, Claire has had to stand on her own, relying on only herself, so every night that she dances and earns tips is one step closer to a future that looks nothing like her past – a life where she doesn’t have to wonder where her next meal will come from or where she will live. And, even though her uncle and his fiancée got her out of an extremely difficult situation, Claire still doesn’t trust that they won’t leave her fending for herself. Old attitudes and perceptions are hard to break even when a different truth seems to be staring her in the face.
Game Changer
That’s what Jude Sinclair, big man on campus and number one player on and off the ice, believes when he first meets Claire. There’s something about her that draws him in and makes him want to give up his manwhore ways. But even though Claire appreciates Jude’s hotness, she also knows his game. She doesn’t think Jude wants more than a roll in the sack…another notch on his bedpost because that’s exactly how his college life has been. She doesn’t see a future with Jude; she can’t because everywhere she looks, there’s someone telling her that Jude’s a dog and that any relationship with him is doomed from the start. But Jude’s tenacity wears her down, and soon, they find themselves in a relationship where feelings run deep, but that doesn’t erase the doubts that Claire has about Jude’s ability to remain faithful with all of the talk around campus or the fact that Claire’s keeping secrets from Jude that could change the way he sees her.
Can Claire and Jude make their relationship work despite the outside forces that want them apart? Can Claire work through her need to rely only on herself and let others in to help ease the load? Pick up a copy of Boarded by Love and find out for yourself.
I’m a huge fan of sports romance stories, and I’ve read several of Toni Aleo’s Assassins books, so it was a no brainer for me to dive into Claire and Jude’s story. The Bellevue Bullies’ series may be on the collegiate level, but it still delivers the drama and angst found in Toni’s other stories. There is an insta love aspect to Boarded by Love and a complete 180 degree change by the hero, and while I can see why both could be hard for readers, it’s also conceivable that finding the right person can be that game changer that Jude believes Claire is. Should he be as perfect as he seems to be once finding Claire? Maybe not, but Jude is the type of person who puts his all into things that matter to him, and Claire clearly means a lot to him.
Claire is a fantastic heroine. She definitely has her flaws, but after the life she led as a child, she seems to know exactly what she wants in life. I love her sass and ability to give as good as she gets. Her internal dialogue illustrates how conflicted she is with her decision to hide the full truth from Jude, but it also explains her reasons for keeping it close to the vest. Jude definitely rocks as a hero; his love for his family and their closeness added to his appeal. I love that he doesn’t apologize for his past; it is what it is, and he moves forward knowing that he won’t do anything that will ruin what he has with Claire.
Boarded by Love is a great choice for fans of the New Adult genre. Its mix of romance, conflict, and emotional angst will keep readers invested in the story. I love that readers get to catch up with some of the stars from Aleo’s Assassins’ series, and Phillip and Reese’s roles in Claire’s story play a pivotal part in helping her achieve her goals. I really hope that Jude’s brother’s story is next!
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
4 poison apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
That’s the exact life Claire Anderson is working towards as she dances and choreographs performances at Ms. Prissy’s Gentlemen’s Club. For more years than she can count, Claire has had to stand on her own, relying on only herself, so every night that she dances and earns tips is one step closer to a future that looks nothing like her past – a life where she doesn’t have to wonder where her next meal will come from or where she will live. And, even though her uncle and his fiancée got her out of an extremely difficult situation, Claire still doesn’t trust that they won’t leave her fending for herself. Old attitudes and perceptions are hard to break even when a different truth seems to be staring her in the face.
Game Changer
That’s what Jude Sinclair, big man on campus and number one player on and off the ice, believes when he first meets Claire. There’s something about her that draws him in and makes him want to give up his manwhore ways. But even though Claire appreciates Jude’s hotness, she also knows his game. She doesn’t think Jude wants more than a roll in the sack…another notch on his bedpost because that’s exactly how his college life has been. She doesn’t see a future with Jude; she can’t because everywhere she looks, there’s someone telling her that Jude’s a dog and that any relationship with him is doomed from the start. But Jude’s tenacity wears her down, and soon, they find themselves in a relationship where feelings run deep, but that doesn’t erase the doubts that Claire has about Jude’s ability to remain faithful with all of the talk around campus or the fact that Claire’s keeping secrets from Jude that could change the way he sees her.
Can Claire and Jude make their relationship work despite the outside forces that want them apart? Can Claire work through her need to rely only on herself and let others in to help ease the load? Pick up a copy of Boarded by Love and find out for yourself.
I’m a huge fan of sports romance stories, and I’ve read several of Toni Aleo’s Assassins books, so it was a no brainer for me to dive into Claire and Jude’s story. The Bellevue Bullies’ series may be on the collegiate level, but it still delivers the drama and angst found in Toni’s other stories. There is an insta love aspect to Boarded by Love and a complete 180 degree change by the hero, and while I can see why both could be hard for readers, it’s also conceivable that finding the right person can be that game changer that Jude believes Claire is. Should he be as perfect as he seems to be once finding Claire? Maybe not, but Jude is the type of person who puts his all into things that matter to him, and Claire clearly means a lot to him.
Claire is a fantastic heroine. She definitely has her flaws, but after the life she led as a child, she seems to know exactly what she wants in life. I love her sass and ability to give as good as she gets. Her internal dialogue illustrates how conflicted she is with her decision to hide the full truth from Jude, but it also explains her reasons for keeping it close to the vest. Jude definitely rocks as a hero; his love for his family and their closeness added to his appeal. I love that he doesn’t apologize for his past; it is what it is, and he moves forward knowing that he won’t do anything that will ruin what he has with Claire.
Boarded by Love is a great choice for fans of the New Adult genre. Its mix of romance, conflict, and emotional angst will keep readers invested in the story. I love that readers get to catch up with some of the stars from Aleo’s Assassins’ series, and Phillip and Reese’s roles in Claire’s story play a pivotal part in helping her achieve her goals. I really hope that Jude’s brother’s story is next!
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
4 poison apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
August 9, 2015
DNF 21.7%
I have so many issues with this book it's not even funny.
Sweet lovey dovey and "I love you more" at every corner in the story until I wanted to slap both of them.
One boy whore who became altar boy in a blink of an eye, so unrealistic..
An insta-love so insta I felt dizzy.
A red girl who wants the boy she likes to court her, sleeps with him so fast I thought I missed some chapters.
This kind of writing is not for tattooed bitches like me.
I have so many issues with this book it's not even funny.
Sweet lovey dovey and "I love you more" at every corner in the story until I wanted to slap both of them.
One boy whore who became altar boy in a blink of an eye, so unrealistic..
An insta-love so insta I felt dizzy.
A red girl who wants the boy she likes to court her, sleeps with him so fast I thought I missed some chapters.
This kind of writing is not for tattooed bitches like me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 706 reviews